“Plans to cut NHS IVF in Essex are unethical, appalling and muddled and leave patients distressed and without hope”

 says Fertility Fairness

 

Plans by health bosses in Basildon & Brentwood to cut NHS IVF for new and existing patients are unethical, appalling and muddled and leave patients distressed and without hope, says campaign group Fertility Fairness.

Susan Seenan, co-chair of Fertility Fairness said: ‘At the start of this week, Basildon & Brentwood clinical commissioning group announced on its website that it had taken the decision to decommission NHS IVF for new patients – ceasing provision of a range of fertility services including egg and sperm storage for patients undergoing cancer treatment. It later amended this statement and is now saying that a decision to decommission has not yet been made.’

‘The clinical commissioning group has also announced it is now consulting on whether to withdraw the three full IVF cycles it had already promised to existing fertility patients: it is proposing patients who have completed one or two full cycles of IVF will not be allowed access to further treatment; patients who are in the middle of a treatment cycle will be allowed to continue that cycle and access up to one frozen embryo transfer resulting from it.’

‘Fertility Fairness is appalled at what Basildon & Brentwood clinical commissioning group is proposing. You cannot tell patients they will receive treatment and then remove their chance of having a baby from them. To do so is unethical and distressing in the extreme.’

Sarah Norcross, co-chair of Fertility Fairness added: ‘Basildon & Brentwood clinical commissioning group’s lack of clarity about its plans for NHS fertility services shows a complete disregard for its fertility patients. This is an appalling way to handle a public consultation. Threatening to move the goalposts for patients who are already receiving treatment is cruel.’

Full details of Fertility Fairness’ press release on this are available here.