Nurse-led approach to standardising the management of iron-deficiency anaemia, achieving the 2-week cancer pathway targets and reducing hospital admissions: practicalities and learnings from a success story.

The most significant and common cause of anaemia is iron deficiency, which occurs when iron absorption cannot meet the body's demands due to growth, pregnancy, poor nutrition, malabsorption or blood loss. It is estimated that in the UK 11% of the adult population have iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) and investigation is essential to exclude significant pathology as the underlying cause. It has been shown that IDA is responsible for 57 000 hospital admissions in the UK, and at least 10% of gastroenterology referrals per annum.