Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Haemochromatosis UK
Advice line Join us Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • About us
    • The genetics of haemochromatosis
    • Our team
    • Our charity
    • Our clinical advisors
    • Careers
    • Contact us
  • Get help
    • Genetic testing for haemochromatosis
    • Contact our Nurse for advice
    • Newly diagnosed?
    • Common symptoms
    • Treatment & care
    • Information & advice
    • Videos
    • Diet matters
    • Talking about GH
    • Can I donate blood?
    • Private venesections
    • Coronavirus advice
    • FAQs
  • The difference we make
    • Cost of illness of GH
    • The impact of iron overload
    • APPG on GH
    • State of The Nation
    • Our projects
      • Helplines
      • Venesection best practice
      • Intelligent imaging
      • Travellers outreach
      • Community outreach
      • Expert patient
  • Get involved
    • Join us
      • Member benefits
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for us
      • Be a fundraiser
      • What will be your legacy?
      • In memory giving
      • Fundraising ideas
      • Challenge events
      • Online fundraising
      • Big Rusty Quiz
    • Be a catalyst
      • Can you help us, help others?
      • Become a catalyst
      • Become a friend
    • Be a volunteer
      • Change the world
      • Current opportunities
    • Campaign with us
    • Shop
  • News and events
    • News
    • Our blog
    • What's on?
    • The Iron Games 2022
    • Socials
  • Healthcare professionals
    • Introduction to GH for Clinicians
    • Clinical guidelines
    • Clinician events
    • Primary care
      • Diagnosis & care
      • GP training
      • Pharmacy
    • Secondary care
      • Nursing
      • Arthropathy
      • Venesection Best Practice
    • Medical research grants
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Venesection Best Practice

Venesection Best Practice

The primary treatment for genetic haemochromatosis is venesection, a process of regular, controlled blood-letting similar to blood donation. Over the past 4 years, our charity has worked to improve patient safety, through the development of best practice guidance for venesection.

A Freedom of Information study in 2016 showed that fewer than 1 in 4 NHS hospital trusts had a defined clinical protocol for venesection. Consequently, people with genetic haemochromatosis experienced variations in standards of care during their treatment.

An award-winning initiative

Haemochromatosis UK brought together healthcare professionals, volunteers, people affected by poor clinical practice, nursing educators and the general public to set about developing this new guidance in a collaborative manner to meet this unmet training need. You can read about our journey here.

This initiative has been recognised by a national Patient Safety Learning Award and was a finalist in the Abbvie Better Health Awards, organised in conjunction with the Patients Association.

Our venesection best practice guidance represents the culmination of over 4 years' work with over 200 nurses and other healthcare professionals to identify, document and coalesce best practice for venesection procedures. In early 2020, our work was endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing. It has been re-endorsed by RCN in 2022.

Check out our other nursing resources, including our RCN-accredited eLearning Module (worth 4 CPD points).

Order Print Edition

Hardcopies may also be obtained for free from all Royal College of Nursing libraries, the British Library, the Ashmolean library (Oxford), Cambridge University library, Trinity College Dublin library.

The book is also available for free loan from public libraries in the UK and Republic of Ireland, by requesting the ISBN 978-1-3999-0737-8.

Download Venesection Best Practice eBook

The book is available for download from Amazon, globally for a small charge (99 pence).

Download eBook Edition

Copies may also be downloaded for free :

  • by communities in developing countries
  • by Amazon Prime members
  • by Amazon Kindle Unlimited members in UK, USA, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, India, Japan, and Australia
  • by Amazon Kindle Owners' Lending Library members in UK, USA, Germany, France and Japan

Readers do not need to own a Kindle device to read the book in eBook format. Simply use Amazon Kindle Reader online, for free or install a free eBook reader for PC, Mac and Android devices.

Our Other Nursing Resources

Check out our other nursing resources, including our RCN-accredited eLearning Module (worth 4 CPD points).

Published: 29th January, 2020

Updated: 1st March, 2022

Author: Neil McClements

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • The Great Iron Brew 2022

    The Great Iron Brew 2022

    We'd love all our supporters to invite friends & family round for a nice cuppa in the Great Iron Brew. Find out how to get involved!

  • Mental health research project launched

    Mental health research project launched

    Our latest research project is studying the relationship between genetic haemochromatosis and mental health. Learn how to get involved.

  • GSK King's Fund Impact Awards Ceremony

    GSK King's Fund Impact Awards Ceremony

    It's the 25th annual GSK Impact Awards, in partnership with the King's Fund. #TeamIronOverload will be joined by trustees, volunteers and well-wishers at the gala awards ceremony to mark our award.

  • Raising awareness with medics

    Raising awareness with medics

    #TeamIronOverload have been on the road exhibiting at clinician events to raise awareness of GH amongst medics.

Related

  • Pregnancy and Genetic Haemochromatosis

    Pregnancy and Genetic Haemochromatosis

    A guide for prospective parents who have genetic haemochromatosis and intend to become, or are currently, pregnant.

  • Mental Health and Haemochromatosis

    Mental Health and Haemochromatosis

    Leaflets discussing the issues of brain fog, mood swings, depression and anxiety that people diagnosed with genetic haemochromatosis frequently report and where to get help.

  • Your NHS Rights

    Your NHS Rights

    Everyone deserves great NHS care. But if something goes wrong or isn’t working for you, what can you do?

  • Haemochromatosis Genynnol

    Haemochromatosis Genynnol

    Haemochromatosis Genynnol - Anhwylder Gorlwyth Haearn (in Welsh, published March & April 2021)

  • Kidszone

    Kidszone

    Resources for children and young people affected by genetic haemochromatosis. Published March 2021.

  • Time For Change - Towards Genetic Screening

    Time For Change - Towards Genetic Screening

    This 22-page report was commissioned in response to the UK National Screening Committee consultation on genetic screening for GH in adults. Published February 2021.

  • Covid-19 and genetic haemochromatosis

    Covid-19 and genetic haemochromatosis

    Fully revised and updated in January 2021, this booklet provides answers to common Covid questions.

  • Genetic haemochromatosis - a quick guide for GPs

    Genetic haemochromatosis - a quick guide for GPs

    This detailed guide for General Practitioners and primary care practitioners covers a wide-range of issues from diagnosis, genetic testing, ongoing care pathways and more.

  • Genetic haemochromatosis - a guide for nurses & healthcare practitioners

    Genetic haemochromatosis - a guide for nurses & healthcare practitioners

    This guide for nurses & healthcare practitioners is a companion to our Venesection Best Practice Guidance (endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing).

  • Pituitary conditions and genetic haemochromatosis

    Pituitary conditions and genetic haemochromatosis

    Iron overload can cause a range of pituitary issues, including loss of libido, Addison's Disease (adrenal insufficiency) and menstrual problems.

Most read

  • What is genetic haemochromatosis?

    What is genetic haemochromatosis?

    Genetic haemochromatosis (GH) is a genetic disorder causing the body to absorb an excessive amount of iron from the diet.

  • CV19 Vaccine & Haemochromatosis

    CV19 Vaccine & Haemochromatosis

    Advice and information on the new Covid-19 vaccines for people affected by genetic haemochromatosis. Updated 14th June 2021.

  • Genetic Testing for Haemochromatosis

    Genetic Testing for Haemochromatosis

    Our genetic testing service for haemochromatosis, at a glance. Order a home-testing kit by post, get the results within 2 weeks.

  • Treatment & care

  • Employers' guide to haemochromatosis

    Employers' guide to haemochromatosis

    People with genetic haemochromatosis want to play an active role in society. These guidelines are intended to help employers understand how they can help people with genetic haemochromatosis in the workplace.

  • Clinical Guidelines for Genetic Haemochromatosis

    Our charity endorses the national clinical guidelines published by the British Society for Haematology in April 2018, for the treatment of people with genetic haemochromatosis. We strongly encourage patients to ensure that their consultants and venesection teams work to the BSH April 2018 guidelines.

  • Coronavirus Update

    Coronavirus Update

    Our helpline has received an increased number of queries about coronavirus. We've collated the current advice here. Updated 28th July 2021.

  • Advice lines

    Advice lines

    Our advice lines are available by phone and email. Worried about genetic haemochromatosis? Don't be. Talk to us for friendly, practical help & understanding.

  • Genetics of haemochromatosis

    Genetics of haemochromatosis

    Genetic haemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive condition, meaning that it is inherited. Whether someone inherits the condition, depends upon their parents' genetics.

  • Join us

    Together, we are stronger. Join today as a member and receive the many benefits of membership of the UK's only charity for people affected by genetic haemochromatosis.

Latest tweet

Sign up for our monthly newsletter

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])
  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Our Policies
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Registered office: Henrith Business Centre, 3 Enterprise Way, Pinchbeck, Spalding PE11 3YR.
Phone: 03030 401 101 / Email: [email protected] / Open: Mon–Fri 9am–3pm

Registered as Charity number 1001307 and SCO41701. Company Limited by Guarantee No. 2541361.
Copyright © 2022 Haemochromatosis UK. All Rights Reserved.

© 2022 Haemochromatosis UK

Manage Cookie Preferences