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CUTS: NHS fertility funding blow
INFERTILE South Yorkshire couples desperate to have a child could see the number of IVF cycles they are entitled to cut if plans for a Yorkshire-wide strategy are accepted.
The NHS in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster currently fund two cycles of treatment – still below government guidelines introduced five years ago which say health trusts should pay for three attempts if the woman is between 23 and 39.
But consultation is under way about a Yorkshire and Humber-wide policy based on offering one full cycle across all Primary Care Trusts in the region.
The plans are being spearheaded by the Specialised Commissioning Group, who took over the commissioning and contracting of tertiary fertility services in April last year.
Papers put before the board of Rotherham NHS last month showed a draft policy was presented to the SCG board in October and November.
The report said: "There was unanimous support from PCTs to move towards single eligibility criteria, ensuring equal access to treatment. PCTs also expressed a strong desire to have a single position in terms of the number of cycles funded.
"Based on PCTs' current positions, it was agreed that SCG would carry out patient and public involvement and consultation on the implementation of a policy of one full cycle across all PCTs."
The moves would not affect couples in Sheffield – where the PCT currently only funds one cycle, but would see a cut in service for people elsewhere in South Yorkshire.
Kath Atkinson, director of strategic planning at NHS Rotherham, said: "Delivery of good quality fertility is important to NHS Rotherham and we are keen to try and ensure consistency of access to the service.
"Through our involvement with the Yorkshire and Humber Specialised Commissioning Group, we coordinate specialised patient services across the region and are working on developing a consistent approach to infertility treatment to ensure that all couples receive equal access to treatment.
"The NHS Rotherham Board considered the issue in January and endorsed the desire to support a single policy across Yorkshire and Humber. We will conduct further public consultation once the formal proposals have been developed by the Specialised Commissioning Group."
A spokesmen for NHS Barnsley and Doncaster said: "We have not yet reached a decision and are working with local stakeholders to consider our position ahead of the proposed consultation."
In IVF treatment an egg is taken from a woman after a two-week course of drugs. It is fertilised in a laboratory before being transferred back to the woman who, it is hoped, will become pregnant.
Each treatment costs 2,900 and studies show that pregnancy rates fall after three unsuccessful attempts.
See Saturday's Star for the latest on this story
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Friday 10 February 2012
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