IVF funding made available only to under 35 in some areas of UK

19/08/2017

IVF funding made available only to under 35 in some areas of UK

Women over the age of 35 could be denied IVF in some areas of England, as NHS trusts are considering rationing the fertility treatment

NHS guidance states that women under 40 with fertility problems should be offered up to three cycles of IVF

However women over the age of 35 could be denied IVF in some areas of England, as NHS trusts are considering rationing the fertility treatment.

The move has prompted one charity to warn of "deliberate inequality".

Official guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) states the NHS should provide three full cycles of IVF to women aged under 40, who have failed to get pregnant after two years of trying.

But now, three NHS providers in the West Country are considering restricting IVF to women aged 30 to 35, who are struggling to conceive.

The charity Fertility Network UK warns Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are debating reducing the female age so only those under 35 will have access to fertility treatment.

Meanwhile, Richmond CCG, in South West London is introducing tighter access criteria for IVF on the NHS.

It will continue to provide one partial NHS-funded IVF cycle for infertile women under 40, according to the charity.

A spokesman for the three CCGs in the West Country told the Guardian: "We know how hard it can be for couples who are struggling to conceive and will continue to offer fertility treatment to hundreds of people every year.

"Clinical evidence shows that treatment between the ages of 30-35 offers the highest possible chance of success."

Fertility Network UK also said that Redditch and Bromsgrove, South Worcestershire and Professor Simon Fishel, founder of the Care Fertility network of clinics, asked the Guardian: "What is the point of having Nice guidelines if they are not adhered to?"

He added: "If the country decides it will not fund IVF then fine, that is a decision that affects everyone...but what I cannot abide is the local variation for something like this, which doesn't reflect local populations.

Wyre Forest CCGs have cut the number of NHS IVF cycles they offer from two to one.

 

Article source: www.thesun.co.uk

 

Back