NHS IVF victory in Bedfordshire welcomed

Susan Seenan, chief executive of Fertility Network UK and co-chair of campaign group Fertility Fairness welcomed the news that Bedfordshire clinical commissioning group is to continue to fund one cycle of IVF for eligible couples, saying: ‘It is heartening to hear that health bosses in Bedfordshire have listened to the views of patients and the public and have committed to continuing to fund NHS fertility services. The news will be an enormous relief to the 1 in 6 couples who need medical help in order to become parents.’
Sarah Norcross, co-chair of Fertility Fairness, added: ‘We are reassured to see that Bedfordshire clinical commissioning group has recognised the benefits of providing a fertility service and has sensibly chosen to avoid the potential health risks and economic consequences of decommissioning NHS IVF.’
Bedfordshire clinical commissioning group’s consultation report stated: ‘One of the risks highlighted during the consultation is the potential unintended consequence of potentially increasing the number of patients that choose double embryo transfer or multiple embryo transfers while self-funding fertility treatment, especially if receiving treatment abroad… There is strong evidence to say that double embryo transfer would result in more multiple births and greater health complications for mother and twins/multiples with associated healthcare costs.’