NHS “functional foods” dietician faces incompetence charge

Peck’s performance during her maternity cover for a senior nutritionist is the subject of scrutiny by the council’s Conduct and Competence Committee.

Specific allegations​

Included in more than 60 specific allegations against Peck’s professional conduct published on HPC website (www.hpc-uk.org) include charges that between October 2006 and May 2007, she recommended individual patients identified by their initials to:

• Avoid caffeine and replace with water and green tea (when suffering from type 2 diabetes) without providing a clinical reason for doing so.
• Eat bio live yoghurt without providing a clinical reason for doing so.
• Use of chromium supplementation without providing a clinical reason for doing so.
• Take 500mg of Vitamin C daily without providing a clinical reason for doing so.
• Take co enzyme Q10, 2000mg of fish oil supplement and a vitamin supplement to provide chromium, without providing a clinical reason for doing so.
• Increase iodine intake through seaweed, kelp granules or thyroxine, without providing a clinical reason for doing so.
• Take milk thistle without providing a clinical reason to do so.
• Drink dandelion tea and goat’s milk without providing a clinical reason to do so.
• Use multivitamin/B complex without providing a clinical reason to do so.
• Continue taking multivitamin, omega fish oil, vitamin C/bioflavonoid complex and co-enzyme Q10 supplement without providing any clinical reasons to do so.

It is further alleged that Peck: Referred to specific brands and appeared to promote or advertise these brands, kept poor patient notes and did not note the advice given to the patient and incorrectly measured a patient’s waist above clothing and five inches above the patient’s navel.

Lack of competance​

The list of allegations concludes by asserting: “By reason of that lack of competence (as detailed above plus other allegations), your (Peck’s) fitness to practise is impaired.”​

The disciplinary hearing focuses on the time when Peck worked at the Coxheath Centre Diabetes Clinic, near Maidstone in Kent.

The case against Peck followed a complaint from Sally Norris, whose role Peck was covering, after she returned to work, according to The Telegraph.​

No one from the West Kent NHS Primary Heath Care Trust was able to comment on the case or confirm guidance given to maternity care dieticians.

An initial hearing was held on Monday, December 12 and the case was adjourned until Friday 11 December.