Is this the END of IVF? Thousands of hopeful couples to be denied funding

The concerns come during National Fertility Awareness Week

THOUSANDS of hopefuls may be denied parenthood thanks to NHS cuts to fertility treatment.

 

Couples struggling to have children are facing even greater obstacles on their path to parenthood.

An increasing number of people will likely be denied NHS-funded fertility treatment, with various Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) set to halt IVF due to lack of funds.

 

Last month saw CCGs in Mid and North East Sussex stop funding treatment for healthy couples.

Alarmingly, more are now planning to do the same. 

 

Couples struggling to have children are facing even greater obstacles on their path to parenthood

According to The Independent, more groups in Essex and South Norfolk and looking at slashing funding for IVF cycles. 

The groups have reportedly referenced funding pressures as the reason and sparked great concern that the trend will take off. 

Both of the Essex CCGs said it will take ‘exceptional circumstances’ for them to fund treatment - such as one partner undergoing cancer treatment. 

The concerns come during National Fertility Awareness Week, which aims to help the one in six couples who struggle to conceive.

 

Last month saw CCGs in Sussex stop funding IVF treatment

The Independent reports co-chairs of Fertility Fairness, Susan Seenan and Sarah Norcross, have written to Health minister Jane Ellison to discuss the ‘urgent’ trend.

The letter states: “IVF has long been subject to a postcode lottery… but some good progress was made over the last Parliament. 

“However, we are now witnessing a reversal of this trend… We would like to see definite action to prevent this decommissioning becoming an automatic policy change for CCGs seeking to make financial savings.” 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends three cycles of IVF for women under 40 who have not conceived after two years and one cycle for some women aged 40 - 42.