Anaemia and iron deficiency are prevalent in the Western and developing world. They have implications for quality of life, prognosis and survival in a number of clinical settings. These range from the implications of anaemic status and associated outcomes in pregnancy, reduced blood transfusion requirements following surgery to lethargy and tiredness in older people if left unrecognised and untreated. Renal medicine is at the forefront of diagnosing and treating anaemia associated with chronic renal disease. In this arena the role of intravenous (IV) iron is well established. This article describes how IV iron may be given in total doses in a short-stay hospital setting.