Preparing for your IV therapy appointment
A mobile appointment works differently to a clinic visit. Here is what to arrange beforehand, what happens on the day, and what to expect afterwards.
The day before
Nothing elaborate is required, but a few small things make the appointment smoother and the cannulation easier.
Well-hydrated veins are easier to access. Being dehydrated when the nurse arrives can make cannulation take longer.
Current medications, allergies, medical conditions and any recent procedures. Your nurse will ask about all of these before treatment.
The single most common cause of a delayed start. If you are in a secure apartment, office or hotel, see the access checklist below.
There is no need to fast. Arriving on an empty stomach can make some people feel light-headed during an infusion.
Set up a comfortable spot
You will be sitting or reclining for roughly 45 to 60 minutes with one arm relatively still. The best spot is somewhere you would happily read a book.
Short sleeves, or sleeves that roll above the elbow easily. Avoid anything tight around the upper arm. A cardigan or blanket is worth having — infused fluids are at room temperature, which can feel cool.
Access checklist by location type
Most late starts come down to a locked door rather than traffic. Sort this out when you book, not on the day.
Secure apartment
Most towers need a resident to authorise lift access to your floor. Either arrange this with your building, or plan to meet the nurse in the lobby. Include your unit number and any intercom code when you book.
House
The simplest case. Mention steep driveways, stairs to the entrance, or a gate that needs opening. If parking is permit-only on your street, say so — the nurse will plan for it.
Hotel
Give us the hotel name and room number. Our nurse presents at reception as your visitor. Some hotels require guests to notify the front desk in advance, so check with them.
Office or workplace
Tell us the visitor entrance or loading dock, the tenancy or level, and whether sign-in is required. Book a meeting room rather than an open-plan desk — privacy matters during the health assessment.
How the appointment runs
Allow around 75 to 90 minutes from the nurse arriving to leaving.
Health assessment
Your nurse reviews your history, medications and allergies, checks observations and confirms whether treatment is suitable. If it isn't, they will tell you and the appointment stops there.
Consent and cannulation
You consent to treatment, then a cannula is placed — usually in the forearm or the back of the hand. It takes a few minutes and feels like a brief sharp scratch.
The infusion
Roughly 45 to 60 minutes. Your nurse stays with you throughout. You can read, work or watch something — just keep the cannula arm reasonably still.
Removal and aftercare
The cannula comes out, the site is dressed, and your nurse talks through aftercare before packing up and leaving. Nothing is left behind for you to deal with.
Afterwards
Most people carry on with their day straight away. Keep the dressing on for a few hours, and expect to need the bathroom more often than usual for a while.
A small bruise at the cannula site is common and settles on its own. Your nurse will explain what is normal, what isn't, and who to contact if you have any concerns after they leave.
Before you book, tell us if you
None of these automatically rules treatment out — they simply need to be discussed. Your nurse makes the final call at the health assessment, and IV therapy is not suitable for everyone.
Common questions
Does it hurt?
The cannula going in feels like a brief sharp scratch, similar to having blood taken. After that most people barely notice it. Tell your nurse if anything stings or aches during the infusion — they can adjust the rate.
Can I work during the infusion?
Yes — laptop work and calls are fine, which is why office and hotel bookings are common. Keep the cannula arm reasonably still; most people find it easiest to have the cannula in their non-dominant arm.
Can I drive afterwards?
Generally yes, though some people feel a little light-headed immediately afterwards. Your nurse will check how you are feeling before leaving. If you have any doubt, wait until you feel completely normal.
What if the nurse decides I'm not suitable?
The health assessment exists precisely to catch this, and a nurse declining treatment is them doing their job properly. They will explain why and, where appropriate, suggest speaking with your GP. Ask us about the policy for declined appointments when you book.
How is this different to going to a clinic?
The clinical process is the same: assessment, consent, cannulation, infusion, aftercare. The differences are practical — no travel or parking at either end, you recover in your own space, and one nurse stays with you rather than supervising several chairs at once. The trade-off is that appointments are scheduled in advance rather than walk-in.
Ready when you are
Book an appointment and tell us your address and access details. We will confirm an arrival window with you.
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