Developing a service for children with iron deficiency anaemia.

The IDEAS (Iron Deficiency Early Anaemia Services) project is a programme aimed at detecting and offering a system of care for children with iron deficiency anaemia. It is designed and run by health visitors and nurses in an inner-city area of Bradford. Children with low haemoglobin are referred by the health visitor to the specialist nurse-led clinic. Dietary advice consistent with tradition and culture is given and appropriate referrals made to the GP for iron supplementation, and to the consultant paediatrician or haemoglobinopathy adviser when appropriate. An important development has been the identification of a previously undiagnosed abnormal haemoglobin trait.