Disappointment over changes to NHS funding rules for IVF treatment in Norfolk

Women under 40 who qualify for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Norfolk will only be able to receive two full cycles under new rules.

Adam Gretton Health correspondent adam.gretton@archant.co.uk Thursday, May 29, 2014 6:30 AM

Campaigners have called for health chiefs to reverse a decision to reduce the number of NHS funded fertility treatments available to women across the majority of Norfolk.

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Recommendations were made earlier this year by the East of England Specialised Commissioning Group to change the way NHS funded IVF treatments are offered.

More than 3,000 IVF cycle treatments are performed across the East every year, which costs the NHS more than 10m. More than 320 cycles of IVF treatment are funded by the NHS in Norfolk every year, which costs more than 1m.

Adopting full NICE recommendations would increase costs by a further 4.3m. The cost of including 40 to 42 year olds across the region for one cycle of IVF is 1.5m.

Reducing the number of cycles from three to two, not adopting guidance on waiting times, but including the age range extension saves up to 1m across the East of England.

Louise Joy Brown was the worlds first IVF baby, who was born at Oldham and District Hospital in Greater Manchester on July 25 1978, thanks to the work of Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards who set up IVF clinic Bourn Hall, near Cambridge.

The current IVF success rate is 40pc.

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Disappointment over changes to NHS funding rules for IVF treatment in Norfolk