The Iron Clinic was established in 2015 and remains the only professional provider for outpatient iron infusions in the UK. The clinic is led by Professor Toby Richards, a world leading expert in the treatment of iron therapy.
The Iron Clinic specialises in diagnosis and treamtment of iron deficiency and provides intravenous iron infusions for clients suffering from iron deficiency and anaemia. The clinic delivers the highest standard of care and maintains and environment where the client feels reassured, confident and informed during the whole experience.
The Team
The clinic team comprises world leaders in the role and use of intravenous iron. They have carried out extensive global research into the use of intravenous iron to treat iron deficiency and anaemia. Our Experts lead in pioneering treatments and collaborations exist internationally in Europe, Australia, America, South America, Singapore and Lebanon.
They advise to the UK Department of Health, NHS Blood & Transplant, British Blood Transfusion Society, Association of Anaesthetists amongst many others. They have given over a hundred invited international presentations in the last five years. Iron infusions offer a rapid treatment for anaemia.
Why do I need Iron?
Your body contains about 3000mg of iron. Blood tests can determine if you have too little iron (iron deficiency) or too few red blood cells (anaemia).
Depending on your weight, an average diagnosis of more than 1000mg of iron. Changing your diet or taking iron tablets can slowly improve your iron stores.
However, the body can only absorb a limited amount of iron per day through these methods, and it may take months for you to feel better.
By adding iron directly to your blood through intravenous infusion you can rapidly replace all your iron stores in one treatment and patients report feeling better in days.
Treatment Options
Treating iron deficiency often involves taking supplements and changing your diet to increase the amount of iron absorbed by the gut. The best source of iron is red meat, especially beef and liver. Often people are prescribed supplements such a ferrous sulphate, which is taken as a tablet usually twice a day.
It’s important to treat any underlying cause, if lack of iron in you diet is thought to be contributing to your iron deficiency, your doctor may advise you to eat more foods that are rich in iron.
With intravenous iron, a small proportion of patients, approximately 2-3% may report feeling feeling flushed or mild abdominal discomfort during the infusion.
Iron Infusion
Instead of a daily pill or liquid, intravenous iron is given as a slow infusion into a vein. This requires inserting a small plastic tube (cannula) into a vein in your arm and will feel similar to having a blood test.
This can be done whilst you are sitting in a chair or lying comfortably. The iron will be administered via an infusion pump ensuring that the correct amount is given to you over the correct time period.
For safety you will be monitored for 30 minutes following the infusion.