Five Mins with…dieticians at BCHC for Allied Health Professionals Day
Today is Allied Health Professions (AHPs) Day. To mark the occasion, throughout the week, we’re shining a spotlight on four BCHC colleagues whose roles show the vital contribution AHPs make to patient care, prevention and healthier communities. From supporting children’s vision to helping people manage diabetes and nutritional needs, they share what their work involves, what they enjoy most and the moments that make them proud.
Name: Gurjeet Chana
Role: Community Diabetes Dietitian
Tell us a little about your role?
I have been working as a Community Diabetes Dietitian in Birmingham for the past 21 years. Throughout my career, I have thoroughly enjoyed the variety and rewarding nature of my role. My work involves supporting people with diabetes across a range of different areas. This includes antenatal diabetes care, specialist diabetes clinics, and delivering type 1 diabetes education sessions.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I particularly enjoy being able to work with individuals at different stages of their diabetes journey and supporting them to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to manage their condition effectively.
Another aspect of my role that I find especially rewarding is supporting and training students. It is extremely satisfying to see students develop their knowledge and confidence during their placements. Some of the students I have trained have gone on to complete their training and return to work within our department, which is something I am particularly proud of.
Being a Diabetes dietitian gives me a great sense of job satisfaction. I value the opportunity to make a positive and lasting difference to people’s lives by helping them understand their condition and make realistic changes to support their health and wellbeing.
Name: Michelle Duggan
Tell us about your role?
I’m a Highly Specialist Primary Care Network Dietitian, working within a GP practice setting, and have worked with BCHC for three years. I’m a dual UK/US registered dietitian with over 13 years’ experience across acute, community and research settings, including various NHS Trusts and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. I have specialist interests in gastroenterology and intuitive eating.
What do you enjoy about your role?
I enjoy supporting patients at different stages of their health journey, from prevention and health promotion to treatment and long-term management. I support community health-promotion events around cardiovascular disease, diabetes and frailty, and work closely with other GP colleagues to provide joined-up care. I’m also passionate about supporting learners throughout their dietetic training and development.
A career highlight?
One memorable patient was referred following a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, but their significant weight loss and presentation didn’t quite fit the usual picture. Further discussion, including looking at holiday photos from earlier that year, highlighted just how marked the change had been. Raising my concerns with the wider clinical team led to further investigations and ultimately a different diagnosis requiring completely different treatment. It reinforced for me the importance of curiosity, listening and looking beyond the initial referral.
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Name: Ijeoma Okezie
Role: Prescribing Support Dietitian
Tell us a little about your role?
I support care homes and healthcare colleagues to ensure oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are prescribed appropriately, using our local formulary (a region-specific list of medicines approved for use within an area/region).
My role combines dietetic assessment, staff education, reviewing and adjusting ONS regimens, and monitoring financial impact helping us identify trends and areas for improvement. I work closely with care home staff, GPs and AHPs to promote food-first approaches, support appropriate referrals and identify opportunities to stop, reduce or switch prescriptions where clinically appropriate.
At its heart, my role is about making sure the right person gets the right nutritional support, for the right reason, and that every prescription adds value and promotes good health. In addition, to capture primary patient outcomes for improved health followed by financial saving as a good secondary benefit. The impact is measurable. In 2025, our work contributed to £401,036 in savings, with 421 residents reviewed, 169 ONS prescriptions stopped and 952 care home staff trained, helping reduce avoidable NHS spend and waste.
How long have you worked at BCHC?
I’ve worked at the Trust for almost four years, joining as an international recruit from Nigeria. I’ve developed experience across nutrition support, inpatient care and prescribing support.
What do you enjoy?
I love listening, problem solving, advocating for residents and working with colleagues to turn small changes into meaningful improvements. I particularly enjoy educating and empowering care home staff, building their confidence to recognise and respond to residents’ nutritional needs.
Career highlight?
Seeing the impact of our work as a Team and being recognised with a Divisional Superstar/VIP Award has been a very special highlight.