Lancashire’s 8 CCGs propose cuts to NHS IVF
Lancashire's 8 clinical commissioning groups are proposing changes to their NHS fertility services policy which will mean a reduction in the level of NHS fertility services provided.
To comment on these proposed cuts to NHS fertility services, please complete the survey before 14 October at http://tinyurl.com/Assisted-Conception-Services
The eight CCGs across Lancashire are: East Lancashire; Blackburn with Darwen; Lancashire North; West Lancashire; Blackpool; Fylde and Wyre; Chorley and South Ribble; and Greater Preston. The proposed draft policy is available here
National guidance from NICE says that it is clinically and cost-effective for CCGs to offer 3 NHS-funded fresh IVF cycles, where the definition of a fresh IVF cycle is one where following ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and embryo creation, fresh embryos are transferred and then all other viable embryos are transferred at a later date (as frozen embryos). A second ‘fresh cycle’ is then one where the process start from the beginning again with ovarian stimulation.
At present, all Lancashire’s 8 CCGs provide access to 2 NHS-funded IVF cycles for women under 40, However, the definition the CCGs use for what is a ‘fresh IVF cycle’ differs. Some define a ‘fresh cycle’ as one where all fresh and frozen embryos are transferred as part of the same ‘fresh cycle’. However, others only allow fresh embryos to be transferred as part of a ‘fresh cycle’; the transfer of any frozen embryos from this first cycle is counted as a ‘second fresh cycle’.
What the 8 CCGs are now proposing is for patients to only be able to acess 2 NHS-funded ‘treatment units’ – this ‘treatment unit’ is a new definition peculiar to Lancashire’s CCGs and is not the same as the NICE definition of a ‘fresh cycle of IVF’.
In this ‘treatment unit’ patients will be able to access 1 NHS-funded IVF cycle where up to 3 fresh embryos may be transferred. However, if there are any other viable embryos from this cycle which are frozen – these will be not transferred at a later data as part of the same ‘treatment unit’.
If there are any viable frozen embryos after a first unsuccessful ‘treatment unit’, the transfer of these frozen embryos (up to 3) will constitute a second (and final) ‘treatment unit’.
If a first ‘treatment unit’ is unsuccessful and there are no frozen embryos from this first ‘treatment unit’, patients will then be able to access a second ‘treatment unit’, involving the transfer of up to 3 fresh embryos. However, if there are any viable frozen embryos from this second ‘treatment unit’, they will not be frozen under this NHS policy, and patients will not be able to access NHS treatment for their transfer at a future date.
Please do comment on these changes and try to stop this from happening. There are also public events happening where you can express your opinion. Some of them are listed here:
Monday 5 September:2.30pm – 4.30pm (Assisted Conception)
St Peter’s Health Centre, 42 Church Street, Burnley, BB11 2DL
Wednesday 7 September 6pm – 8pm (Assisted Conception)
Dining Room, Accrington Victoria Hospital, Haywood Road, Accrington, BB5 6AS
Tuesday 27 September 6pm – 8pm (Assisted Conception)
Blackburn Central Library, Town Hall Street, Blackburn, BB2 1AG
Thursday 29 September: 2pm – 4pm (Assisted Conception)
Blackburn Central Library, Town Hall Street, Blackburn BB2 1AG
To book a place, please contact Katie Yates on 01772 214275 or email haveyoursay@lancashirecsu.nhs.uk
Blackpool meetings are on:
Monday 12 September 1pm – 3pm
The Solaris Centre, New South Promenade, Blackpool, FY4 1RW (Assisted Conception).
Thursday 15 September
30pm – 6.30pm – City Learning Centre, Bathurst Avenue, Blackpool, FY3 7RW (Assisted Conception).
For further info, please see: http://blackpoolccg.nhs.uk/views-being-sought-across-lanca…/ and the websites of the other CCGs