Identify and manage anaemia

The toolkits on this page are for healthcare professionals. They provide information to help to identify and manage anaemia.

Anaemia management is a core part of patient blood management. Optimising blood health for people with anaemia reduces the risk of avoidable transfusion. It improves health outcomes for people undergoing surgery and can lessen the impact on coexisting health conditions. During pregnancy anaemia can significantly impact maternal and foetal health. Timely identification and management can reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality.

Anaemia is a global health problem. The World Health Organisation released a policy brief in 2021 ('The urgent need to implement patient blood management') which discusses the need to preserve patients' own blood by managing anaemia and its causes, and updated their guideline on haemoglobin cutoffs to define anaemia in individuals and populations in 2024.  

Toolkits

Obstetric anaemia

Access patient blood management initiatives specific to iron deficiency in pregnancy.

Access resources

Preoperative anaemia

Resources to support the whole pathway for preoperative anaemia optimisation.

Learn more

Iron deficiency anaemia

Access guidance and resources to support the identification and management of iron deficiency.

More information

B12 and folate deficiency anaemia

This common condition is increasing in prevalence. Find guidance and resources here.

Read more

e-Learning

To improve or refresh your knowledge of anaemia, we have produced e-learning modules. For more information, visit our Education for healthcare professionals page.

Page last reviewed: 10 February 2025