Aoife Gillane

Nutrition is central to health, yet in Ireland it is still treated as secondary in everyday care. My research exposes why: unclear professional boundaries, limited training, and fragmented referral systems. These barriers are not inevitable; they can be addressed. The evidence supports targeted reforms: embedding nutrition competencies across all health curricula, creating consistent referral pathways, and strengthening dietetic capacity. Such changes, aligned with global best practice, promise measurable impact: better healthcare outcomes, reduced disease burden, and lower costs.

The message is simple but powerful: when we deliver nutrition care effectively, we don’t just change diets, we change health.