Private IV Iron Infusion in Birmingham

If you've been feeling tired, breathless or foggy for a while, and iron tablets haven't worked or haven't agreed with you, it's understandable to want a different way forward.

We offer a private intravenous (IV) iron infusion service for adults with confirmed iron deficiency or iron deficiency anaemia. Every infusion is arranged through a GP-led pathway, so treatment is built around your own blood results and history.

Do I Need an Appointment?

You don't need a referral from your own GP to come to us. Your first step is a consultation with one of our GPs, who will talk through your symptoms and recent blood results with you.

If you already have recent blood tests confirming iron deficiency, bring these along, as they can help inform your GP's assessment. If you haven't had blood tests yet, or you're not sure, our team can talk you through the options, including testing with us.

If you're not sure whether this service is the right fit, see "Is This the Right Service for You?" below, or get in touch and our team will be happy to help.

How We Can Help

Intravenous iron replaces your body's iron stores by delivering iron directly into a vein, rather than through the digestive system. 

Your GP may discuss an IV iron infusion with you as an option when:

• Iron tablets haven't improved your iron levels
• Iron tablets have caused side effects you find hard to tolerate
• Iron tablets aren't suitable for you clinically
• Your body has difficulty absorbing iron taken by mouth
• Iron needs to be replaced more quickly
• You're experiencing significant symptoms linked to iron deficiency

We know living with symptoms like these can be exhausting, and we want you to feel properly listened to while we work out the right approach for you.

The aim is to correct iron deficiency and support improvement in symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, dizziness, headaches, poor concentration, palpitations, and reduced exercise tolerance. Any improvement varies between individuals, and where it happens, it's often noticed over several days to a few weeks.

Before any infusion is arranged, your GP will confirm iron deficiency through blood tests, assess your suitability, calculate the appropriate dose, and prescribe your treatment.

Our Process

It helps to know what's involved before you begin.

You'll start with a GP consultation, where you can discuss your symptoms, history and blood results together. Your GP will confirm whether IV iron is a reasonable next step for you.

You can arrange blood tests at Midland Health, or use your own GP's recent results, subject to clinical review. Tests should include ferritin, TIBC, FBC, vitamin B12, folate and CRP at a minimum. 

The infusion takes place at a separate appointment. One of our nurses gives your prescribed infusion via a cannula, which sits directly in a vein in your arm. The infusion itself usually takes around 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your prescribed dose. You may be asked to wait 30 minutes after the appointment to monitor any reactions.

If a further 500mg dose is needed, based on your weight, blood results and calculated iron needs, this can be given from seven days after your first infusion.

We'll ask you to have follow-up blood tests around 4-6 weeks after your treatment, so we can see how you've responded.

Your GP will then review these results with you and talk through anything further that might help. Your GP is there to answer questions at each step of the process.

Meet the Team

All our iron infusions are administered by registered nurses or appropriately trained healthcare professionals who have completed the required IV therapy and emergency-response competency training.

Is This the Right Service for You?

This service is for adults aged 18 and over with confirmed iron deficiency or iron deficiency anaemia.

It may be worth discussing with us if:

• You've been feeling persistently tired, breathless, dizzy, or find it hard to concentrate, and iron deficiency has been identified as a contributing factor
• Iron tablets haven't improved your iron levels, or have caused side effects you find hard to tolerate
• You have a condition that can affect how your body absorbs iron, such as coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or previous stomach or bowel surgery
• You're experiencing iron deficiency linked to heavy menstrual bleeding
• You have a higher iron requirement, or a clinical need to have your iron levels corrected more quickly
• You already have recent blood results and are looking for a private assessment and treatment pathway

This service isn't available to patients under 18. If you're pregnant, particularly in the first trimester, your GP will need to consider this carefully as part of your assessment, and it may mean IV iron isn't the right option at this time.

If you haven't yet had blood tests to confirm iron deficiency, you can book with our Tests & Diagnostics team.

What to Expect From an Appointment

Knowing what's ahead can make the day feel more straightforward, so here's what's usually involved.

Before your appointment

Unless your GP advises otherwise, we'll usually ask you to:

• Stop taking oral iron tablets 24 hours beforehand
• Continue your other usual medication as normal
• Eat as you normally would, as fasting isn't required
• Drink plenty of water beforehand, as this helps with IV placement
• Let us know about any allergies, recent illness or infection, pregnancy, and all medications or supplements you're taking

During your appointment

A nurse will confirm your identity and prescribed treatment, take some baseline observations, and insert a small tube (a cannula) into a vein, usually in your forearm. You'll be monitored throughout your infusion and for a period afterwards.

Possible side effects

Like any medical treatment, iron infusions can cause side effects, and these vary between individuals. More common effects can include headache, nausea, dizziness, flushing, a metallic taste, or discomfort where the cannula is sited. Less commonly, some people notice low blood pressure, abdominal discomfort, aching muscles or joints, a raised temperature, rash, tingling, or swelling.

Serious allergic reactions are rare but possible, and there's also a rare risk of permanent skin staining if the iron leaks into the tissue around the vein. Your nurse will talk you through these risks as part of getting your consent before treatment.

If you develop difficulty breathing, chest pain, facial swelling, a severe rash, or any other serious symptoms after your appointment, seek urgent medical attention by calling 999 or attending your nearest A&E.

Follow-Up Steps

Between 4-6 weeks after your infusion, you’ll be invited to have follow-up blood tests, so your GP can see how your iron levels have responded.

Your GP will review these results with you and talk through what they show. If further treatment, a further infusion, or another follow-up appointment would help, they'll explain your options clearly.

Why Choose Midland Health

Deciding where to have treatment matters, so we aim to make the process clear from your first call to your follow-up.

• No GP referral required from your own doctor to get started
• No waiting lists, with same-day or next-day appointments where available
• A coordinated pathway, with GP assessment, blood testing and your infusion all arranged through one team
• Nurses trained specifically in IV therapy and monitoring
• CQC registered clinic
• Transparent pricing, agreed with you before anything is arranged

Our Clinic

Your appointments are held at our clinic at 78-79 Francis Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 8SP.

We're close to Five Ways train station, accessible by bus, tram, or train. If you're driving, patients can use the Broadway Plaza car park free of charge for up to 2 hours when their vehicle registration is validated at Midland Health reception.

Next Steps

If you'd like to arrange a GP consultation for IV iron, or you have a few questions first, our team is here to help.

FAQs