Therapeutic phlebotomy (also called therapeutic venesection) is a well-established, evidence-based medical procedure that has been a cornerstone of clinical medicine for over a century. It involves the controlled removal of a measured volume of blood from the body, typically 80ml per session, to reduce circulating iron stores. The procedure is recognised by NICE, the British Society for Haematology, and clinical haematology guidelines internationally as the gold-standard, guideline-recommended first-line treatment for hereditary haemochromatosis, the UK’s most common inherited genetic condition (affecting approximately 1 in 150 people of Northern European descent).
MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS & SPECIALIST SCREENING • GLASGOW
Clinical phlebotomy, by qualified practitioners.
Therapeutic venesection in a sterile, professionally managed clinical environment, supervised by registered medical practitioners. Recognised by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and the British Society for Haematology as the gold-standard, guideline-recommended first-line treatment for haemochromatosis.
NICE-recognised
Haemochromatosis specialist
80ml therapeutic draw
From
£80
per 80ml session · maintenance pricing varies
OUR APPROACH TO PHLEBOTOMY
Clinically validated medicine. Not alternative therapy.
What therapeutic phlebotomy actually is.
Why it’s different from historical bloodletting.
Historical bloodletting was an unscientific practice based on incorrect medical theories, performed without diagnostic basis, dosing standards, or clinical evidence. Therapeutic phlebotomy is the opposite: a precisely measured, diagnostic-led, clinically-supervised procedure performed for specific evidence-based indications, with regular monitoring of iron levels (ferritin and transferrin saturation) to guide treatment frequency. At Health3, every phlebotomy session is supervised by a registered medical practitioner working from established clinical protocols.
TESTS AVAILABLE
Six clinical indications.
We offer the full range of evidence-based sexual health tests, individually for users who know what they want tested or as a comprehensive panel for full screening. Your initial consultation will discuss which tests are appropriate based on your specific situation, with no judgement and no unnecessary upselling.
01
Hereditary haemochromatosis.
The current gold-standard HIV test, detecting both viral antigen (p24) and antibodies. Detects infection earlier than antibody-only tests, typically reliable from 2 to 4 weeks after potential exposure.
02
Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea (NAAT).
A myeloproliferative disorder causing the bone marrow to produce excess red blood cells, increasing thrombotic risk. Therapeutic venesection reduces red cell count and is a first-line component of standard management.
03
Porphyria cutanea tarda.
A porphyria condition where iron accumulation triggers skin photosensitivity. Phlebotomy reduces iron stores and is one of the two recognised first-line treatments.
04
Patients awaiting NHS venesection appointments.
Where NHS appointment availability has lengthened and a patient with established treatment needs cannot wait, we provide bridge venesection in line with their existing care plan, in coordination with the patient’s haematology team where appropriate.
05
Patients on ongoing iron-reduction programmes.
Where regular venesection is part of an established clinical management programme, we can deliver maintenance sessions calibrated to monitoring data from the patient’s haematology consultant.
06
Trichomonas vaginalis.
Where iron levels are elevated above optimal range and the user is pursuing iron management as part of a broader longevity strategy, supervised venesection is one evidence-based intervention. Clinical assessment confirms suitability and monitors safety throughout.
LONGEVITY FACTOR 01
Cardiovascular Protection
Excess iron in the body acts as a pro-oxidant — generating free radicals that damage arterial walls, promote lipid peroxidation, and accelerate atherosclerosis. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated that elevated serum ferritin is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Regular therapeutic phlebotomy, by reducing total body iron stores, has been associated with significantly improved vascular function and a reduction in cardiac risk markers — making iron management a meaningful longevity intervention for those with iron loading conditions.
LONGEVITY FACTOR 02
Iron Load & Cellular Ageing
Iron accumulation at the cellular level is increasingly recognised in the longevity science literature as a driver of accelerated biological ageing. Excess iron catalyses the Fenton reaction — generating hydroxyl radicals that cause oxidative DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular senescence. Research published in journals including Nature Medicine and Aging Cell has identified iron dysregulation as a contributor to age-related disease. Maintaining iron at optimal — not merely “normal” — levels through regular venesection may represent a meaningful strategy for those pursuing longevity optimisation.
TREATMENT FREQUENCY
Weekly initially, every two to three months for maintenance.
For haemochromatosis patients beginning treatment, venesection is typically performed weekly or fortnightly until ferritin and transferrin saturation normalise (the iron depletion phase). Once iron levels are within target range, maintenance venesection is performed every 2 to 3 months, with frequency calibrated to ongoing monitoring. The standard 80ml draw per session is the clinically established therapeutic volume. Your haematology team’s monitoring data, or our own assessment if you are starting fresh, guides the schedule.
WHY HEALTH3 MEDICALS
Same-day medical assessments,
properly certified.
Health3 provides the medical assessments and screening services that working life, regulatory bodies, and personal health needs require. OGUK and DVLA D4 medicals, immigration assessments, sexual health screening, and therapeutic phlebotomy — all delivered by qualified medical practitioners, with same-day completion and certification where possible. Fast turnaround, properly documented, professionally handled.
✓Same-day appointments and certification
✓Approved practitioners and accredited clinic
✓All required tests in a single appointment
✓Confidential records, separate from NHS
✓Documentation correctly formatted for submission
✓Direct clinical follow-up where indicated
WHY HEALTH3 MEDICALS
Same-day medical assessments,
properly certified.
Health3 provides the medical assessments and screening services that working life, regulatory bodies, and personal health needs require. OGUK and DVLA D4 medicals, immigration assessments, sexual health screening, and therapeutic phlebotomy - all delivered by qualified medical practitioners, with same-day completion and certification where possible. Fast turnaround, properly documented, professionally handled.
✓Same-day appointments and certification
✓Approved practitioners and accredited clinic
✓All required tests in a single appointment
✓Confidential records, separate from NHS
✓Documentation correctly formatted for submission
✓Direct clinical follow-up where indicated
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS