Iron Infusions

Prior to your infusion you will require a consultation with a doctor at The Family & Sports Medicine Centre to assess the potential causes of your iron deficiency. You may be required to have further blood tests following your consultation.

If your regular General Practitioner is referring you for an iron infusion you do not require a consultation with a doctor at The Family & Sports Medicine Centre.

It is important that you attend with a detailed referral from your GP outlining the reason for your iron deficiency and your relevant past medical history – this includes any recent blood tests, gastroscopy/colonoscopy results and a list of your current medications, allergies and past surgeries.

Before your iron infusion, you would have seen your doctor to discuss your blood results and be given a script for the iron vials to bring with you on the day. This prescription can be filled at any pharmacy and will cost around $35 to $45. Bring this to your consultation.

Things to remember to bring with you:

Prior to your infusion a cannula will be inserted into a vein in your arm. A cannula is a small needle that allows iron to be slowly dripped (infused) into your circulation.

Before the infusion is commenced you will have your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation measured. These observations will be repeated at 5-minute intervals throughout your infusion. An infusion takes around 15 to 20 minutes. A nurse will be with you throughout this time.

The nurse or doctor administering the iron infusion will stay with the patient at all times during the iron infusion. Owing to the risk of anaphylaxis during and post infusion, the patient must not be left alone at any stage up to 30 minutes post infusion.

Once the infusion is complete, your cannula will be ‘flushed’ with saline and then removed. A dressing will be applied to the site. Occasionally bruising occurs at the site of cannulation. Any bruising does not alter the efficacy of the infusion and this bruising will subside within 1 to 2 weeks.

After the infusion you will be required to wait in our waiting room for a further 30 minutes for ‘post infusion” observation. This is a time when our staff can observe any adverse reactions that you may encounter. During this time if you are feeling unwell – nausea, palpitations, warmth (hot spells), pain or dizziness we ask that you report this to our staff.

You will be required to have further blood tests approximately 4 weeks after your infusion. This is to ensure your iron levels are within ‘normal limits’. It is pertinent that you have additional blood tests approximately 3 months after your blood tests to ensure iron levels remain within ‘normal’ limits.

Our fee for the iron infusion is $250.00 and unfortunately there is no Medicare rebate for any of this process. You initial consultation with the doctor will be billed privately and a rebate for that consultation is $39.75 for a standard consultation and $76.95 for a long consultation.