First, some reassurance. Most people with this symptom do not have anything serious — but it is always better to know than to worry. A quick assessment can put your mind at rest or get treatment started early, when it works best.
Common, usually harmless causes
Diet
Not enough iron-rich food, particularly with a vegetarian or restricted diet.
Heavy periods
A very common cause of low iron in women before the menopause.
Poor absorption
Conditions such as coeliac disease can stop you absorbing iron properly.
Why it's worth getting checked
In adults — especially men, and women after the menopause — unexplained iron deficiency can be caused by slow bleeding from a polyp or from the bowel or stomach lining. Because this bleeding is often invisible, the anaemia may be the only clue, which makes checking it so important.
When to get this checked
Please arrange to be seen if:
- You have been told you are anaemic or low in iron with no obvious reason
- You are a man, or a woman past the menopause, with low iron
- Your iron stays low despite taking supplements
- You also have a change in bowel habit, bleeding, or weight loss
- You feel persistently tired, breathless or pale
Get urgent help now if…
Go to A&E or call 999 (or NHS 111 for advice) if:
- Chest pain or severe breathlessness
- Fainting, or passing black tarry stools
These need emergency care, not a routine appointment. Please do not wait for a private booking.
How I can help — and how quickly
If your symptom is not an emergency, you do not have to sit on a waiting list to get answers. Here is how it usually works:
- A quick telephone consultation. Often arranged within 24 hours. I listen to your history and explain what is likely going on.
- The right test, arranged fast. Where appropriate, I can organise a colonoscopy and gastroscopy (camera tests of the bowel and stomach) to find any source of hidden blood loss promptly — sometimes before your first face-to-face visit, to speed things up.
- Clear answers and a plan. We go through your results together, and I explain exactly what they mean and what happens next.
Some symptoms need an in-person examination first, and I will always tell you honestly what the best next step is for you.
Why patients choose me
- JAG-accredited in colonoscopy & gastroscopy
- Near-100% caecal intubation rate at colonoscopy
- 8,000+ procedures performed
- FRCS — Consultant Colorectal & General Surgeon
Request a telephone consultation
Prefer a call before coming in? Leave your details below and my secretary will contact you to arrange a telephone consultation, usually within 24 hours. Where appropriate, a phone consultation can fast-track you straight to the right test.
Prefer to email directly? Email a 24-hour callback request · or call 01926 935121
Your details are used only to arrange your consultation. Please don't include sensitive medical information in this form.
Get seen quickly
Call my secretary to arrange a fast appointment, or book online via my Nuffield Health profile. I see patients privately at Nuffield Health Warwickshire Hospital, Leamington Spa.
Call 01926 935121Common questions
Why investigate low iron with a camera test?
Because in adults, unexplained iron deficiency can be due to slow, invisible bleeding in the gut. Camera tests are the clearest way to find and treat the cause early.
Do both tests need doing?
Often a colonoscopy and gastroscopy are recommended together to check both ends of the gut. I will explain exactly what your situation needs.
How fast can this happen privately?
A telephone consultation can usually be arranged within a day or two, with the camera tests organised soon after.