Comments(0)
Women in Devon and Cornwall who need help to have a baby are the losers in a "postcode lottery" for NHS fertility treatment, it has emerged.
A fertility expert has warned that plans to cut back on in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in some areas of England amount to "deliberate inequality".
The charity Fertility Network UK has warned of stricter access criteria and plans to cut NHS IVF.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines say the NHS should provide three full cycles of IVF treatment for women aged under 40 who have failed to get pregnant after two years of trying.
Clinical commissioning groups in Devon and Cornwall already offer only one free attempt for women under 40.
Susan Seenan, chief executive of Fertility Network UK, said: "NICE recommends that up to three cycles of IVF treatment are offered to those eligible.
"The recommendations are based on cost as well as clinical effectiveness and by offering only one cycle Devon and Cornwall are going completely against national guidance.
"Infertility has a serious and lasting impact on all those affected and fertility problems do not just affect people physically, but mentally too: our recent survey showed that 90% of people experience depression; 42% suicidal thoughts and relationships are affected (70%).
"Only those who have experienced infertility can really understand the impact which it has, and it is heart-breaking to know that access to treatment in England is dependent on your postcode."
NHS Kernow, the clinical commissioning group for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, was formed in April 2013 and has been using the existing policy since then.
NHS Kernow spent in the region of 250,000 on IVF treatment cycles during the past financial year, a spokeswoman said.
A spokesman for NHS Kernow said: "NHS Kernow uses a policy on assisted conception that provides a comprehensive range of infertility treatments. This policy was developed with clinicians and fertility experts to ensure people can access a range of treatments that give them a greater chance of conception. Eligible couples across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly can receive one cycle of IVF (In Vitro treatment) and up to four cycles of IUI (Intrauterine insemination).
"The NICE guidelines provide guidance and whilst CCGs across Devon and Cornwall fund one cycle, there are other CCGs that offer none."
Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group and South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group said they had no plans to review IVF treatment.
Professor Simon Fishel, founder of the Care Fertility network of clinics, said: "What is the point of having Nice guidelines if they are not adhered to?
"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."
More: Couple face IVF treatment rationing
"You have to treat citizens equally and this is a deliberate inequality and allows some areas to say they are offering IVF but when it comes down to the detail, only a tiny fraction of those who need it have access to it."
NHS Kernow offers up to four cycles of Intrauterine insemination and one cycle of funded IVF per couple, who would be expected to have a more than 10% chance of live-birth per cycle.
If the woman is aged under 40, they should be offered one cycle of IVF if they have been trying to get pregnant for two years or they are using artificial insemination and have not become pregnant after 12 cycles.
However, if tests show that there appears to be no chance of the woman conceiving naturally, and that IVF is the only treatment that is likely to help, they should be referred straightaway for IVF.
No woman may receive an NHS funded IVF cycle if she has previously received a total of three cycles, whether self- or NHS-funded.
This is because the chances of having a baby falls with the number of unsuccessful cycles of IVF.
See the article here:
Plymouth women losing out in IVF 'postcode lottery' - Plymouth Herald
- 27-year-old's shock as IVF treatment reveals golf ball-sized cancer - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Ontario Liberals announce partial funding for IVF fertility treatments - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- IVF Treatment - Procedure, Pregnancy Success Rates, Embryo ... - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Understanding IVF Treatment Step By Step - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- ivf treatment at sofat centre - Video - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Ivf treatment in india - Video - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Successful IVF Treatment at Medpark International Hospital - Video - April 10th, 2014 [April 10th, 2014]
- Italian woman set to keep 'wrong' twins after IVF mix-up - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Pregnant Italian woman to keep twins after IVF 'mix-up' - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Women Infertility:IVF Treatment-Good Health - Video - April 15th, 2014 [April 15th, 2014]
- Fertility Treatment Abroad IVF, IUI, Surrogacy, ICSI ... - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Infertility Treatments - Infertility Medications and ... - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- 'Our two little miracles' - Cambridge mum tells how IVF has given her the family she'd always dreamed of - April 22nd, 2014 [April 22nd, 2014]
- Ban on free infertility treatment to be lifted - April 24th, 2014 [April 24th, 2014]
- Couples seeking IVF 'face unfair postcode lottery' - April 26th, 2014 [April 26th, 2014]
- Why go for IVF Treatment - Video - April 26th, 2014 [April 26th, 2014]
- Rise In Women Taking On Motherhood Alone - April 27th, 2014 [April 27th, 2014]
- Mumbai has 42% of state's IVF centres: Study - April 28th, 2014 [April 28th, 2014]
- Dunya IVF Announced That Baby Gender Selection Is Becoming Hugely Popular for Couples Willing to Travel to Cyprus for It - May 2nd, 2014 [May 2nd, 2014]
- Fertility guru's IVF warning: Rich could pay to have brighter babies, says Lord Winston - May 4th, 2014 [May 4th, 2014]
- IVF Treatment | In Vitro Fertilization | Costs & Timeline - May 9th, 2014 [May 9th, 2014]
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) | Infertility Treatment - May 9th, 2014 [May 9th, 2014]
- Couple looking to province for help funding fertility treatment - May 12th, 2014 [May 12th, 2014]
- Fertile territory as new IVF clinic is born - May 12th, 2014 [May 12th, 2014]
- Ivf Treatment by top surgeon of india at very affordable cost - Video - May 12th, 2014 [May 12th, 2014]
- Know About Procedure of IVF, IUI, IMSI Treatment in india -- Dr. Rita Bakshi - Video - May 14th, 2014 [May 14th, 2014]
- NHS watchdog: - May 14th, 2014 [May 14th, 2014]
- NHS trusts told to end postcode lottery of IVF treatment - May 16th, 2014 [May 16th, 2014]
- Sweden could legalize IVF for single mothers - May 16th, 2014 [May 16th, 2014]
- Angelina Jolie 'considering IVF' - May 18th, 2014 [May 18th, 2014]
- New IVF Treatment Promises Tripled Success Rate - Video - May 20th, 2014 [May 20th, 2014]
- Global IVF Market Will Grow at 11.6 % CAGR Till 2020 - May 21st, 2014 [May 21st, 2014]
- IVF Spain THE BEST CHOICE For IVF Treatment Abroad - Video - May 21st, 2014 [May 21st, 2014]
- A family at last thanks to pioneering fertility treatment - May 22nd, 2014 [May 22nd, 2014]
- Disappointment over changes to IVF rules in Norfolk - May 31st, 2014 [May 31st, 2014]
- Disappointment over changes to NHS funding rules for IVF treatment in Norfolk - May 31st, 2014 [May 31st, 2014]
- IVF hope for Ryedale women - May 31st, 2014 [May 31st, 2014]
- Nicola Starr who failed to conceive naturally after IVF treatment died of overdose - June 2nd, 2014 [June 2nd, 2014]
- Dr Neeraj Pahlajani Best IVF Treatment - Video - June 2nd, 2014 [June 2nd, 2014]
- Fertility bosses say 'three-parent IVF' is "not unsafe" - June 4th, 2014 [June 4th, 2014]
- IVF funding to be reinstated - June 4th, 2014 [June 4th, 2014]
- IVF looks set to be offered in York - June 12th, 2014 [June 12th, 2014]
- IVF Treatment Procedure And Cost - Video - June 15th, 2014 [June 15th, 2014]
- Surrogacy in india | Best IVF treatment | Cost of surrogacy - Video - June 15th, 2014 [June 15th, 2014]
- Dutch researchers develop urine test for test tube baby success - June 16th, 2014 [June 16th, 2014]
- Letchworth dad celebrates Fathers Day with son born after IVF treatment - June 18th, 2014 [June 18th, 2014]
- A father's gift - June 22nd, 2014 [June 22nd, 2014]
- Wide Bay Burnett Affordable IVF Services Now Available - June 22nd, 2014 [June 22nd, 2014]
- IVF treatment to be offered to York couples on NHS - June 22nd, 2014 [June 22nd, 2014]
- IVFAdvantage : Smart Savings on IVF Treatment - Video - June 22nd, 2014 [June 22nd, 2014]
- IVF Treatment Clinic In Delhi - www.ivftreatmentclinicindia.com - Video - June 22nd, 2014 [June 22nd, 2014]
- IVF Treatment Clinic In India | IVF Treatment Clinic India - Video - June 22nd, 2014 [June 22nd, 2014]
- Affordable IVF Sunshine Coast Clinic Set To Move Into New Offices - June 24th, 2014 [June 24th, 2014]
- The secret life of an embryo - June 24th, 2014 [June 24th, 2014]
- Couple who had pioneering IVF treatment expecting 2nd child after conceiving naturally - June 27th, 2014 [June 27th, 2014]
- Could aspirin help prevent miscarriage? New research finds blood-thinning drugs like the painkiller could reduce risk ... - June 28th, 2014 [June 28th, 2014]
- Grade A mistakes made during IVF treatment - July 7th, 2014 [July 7th, 2014]
- Kim 'plans IVF to give Kanye a boy' - July 7th, 2014 [July 7th, 2014]
- One in 100 women - July 7th, 2014 [July 7th, 2014]
- In Vitro Fertilization & IVF Treatment in New York, NY :: CHR - July 9th, 2014 [July 9th, 2014]
- Woman's 20-year dream realised after she was left infertile by menopause in her teens - July 11th, 2014 [July 11th, 2014]
- New York City IVF - Individualization of IVF Treatment - Video - July 12th, 2014 [July 12th, 2014]
- Mother who lost her fiance to cancer before their newborn twins died just months later finally becomes a mother after ... - July 15th, 2014 [July 15th, 2014]
- IVF Treatment Success Testimonial in Surat Gujarat - Video - July 15th, 2014 [July 15th, 2014]
- Dr Tozer Drugs used in IVF - Video - July 15th, 2014 [July 15th, 2014]
- Dr Tozer IVF Treatment explained - Video - July 16th, 2014 [July 16th, 2014]
- 07/18/2014 THAILAND - CHINA - HONG KONG Chinese couples flock to Bangkok to choose unborn childs sex: a multi-million ... - July 18th, 2014 [July 18th, 2014]
- New method for stimulating ovulation may make IVF safer, study says - July 20th, 2014 [July 20th, 2014]
- Researchers make IVF safer for women - July 20th, 2014 [July 20th, 2014]
- First babies born from safe new IVF technique - July 20th, 2014 [July 20th, 2014]
- New trigger for ovulation could make IVF safer - July 20th, 2014 [July 20th, 2014]
- Kisspeptin triggers egg maturation in women undergoing IVF treatment - Video - July 20th, 2014 [July 20th, 2014]
- Growing numbers of British parents going to US for IVF to choose sex of child - July 21st, 2014 [July 21st, 2014]
- New IVF treatment offers safer, less complicated pregnancies to women - July 21st, 2014 [July 21st, 2014]
- IVF Success Statistics Can Be Misleading - July 22nd, 2014 [July 22nd, 2014]
- Free cycle of IVF offered to couples - July 24th, 2014 [July 24th, 2014]
- Mum told she can't have IVF treatment - with her DEAD HUSBAND - July 24th, 2014 [July 24th, 2014]
- Heartbroken widow refused IVF treatment using dead husband's sperm - July 24th, 2014 [July 24th, 2014]
- IVF treatment - Video - July 24th, 2014 [July 24th, 2014]
- NHS chiefs to review ban on IVF for couples who already have a child - July 27th, 2014 [July 27th, 2014]