Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Senator makes a very good point. I must admit I have never read the contract of a dietician so I am not sure what is in it. Many of them would be private to the individuals concerned. However, what would seem to me to be eminently logical is where a dietician is part of a primary care team or is employed within the community, that he or she would be available to go to nursing homes and speak to relatives in the way a GP does, as suggested by Senator Burke. The situation is different where a dietician is based in a hospital and his or her job is to work full time in the hospital. I will certainly bring the matter to the attention of the HSE.