Campaigners reacted with delight last night after health bosses voted yes to the idea of offering IVF treatment to York couples.

The Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group had been under fire for being the only place in the UK not to offer a single cycle of the fertility treatment to patients.

But in a meeting of the governing body yesterday, members “agreed in principle to make IVF available to couples in the Vale of York via a joint commissioning approach with NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG”.

A further announcement is due in two weeks.

Karen Boardman, 34, from Heworth, who has been trying for a baby since she married her husband Pete three years ago, said last night: “This is a fantastic step forward.

“I can only hope and encourage them to make the right final decision in two weeks - and allow so many couples in York to have a family.

“I was quite surprised. It’s amazing. It did not think they were going to budge.”

Nicola Bates, Founder of IVFyes, the national patients’ campaign group, said: “It’s tremendous news.

“We are keen to understand more about how many cycles they will offer and when.

“But we are glad York has finally caught up with the rest of the UK.

“It is an end to the IVF postcode lottery.”

A spokesperson for Vale of York CCG said: “During the next two weeks, we will be studying the evidence and information which will inform the detail of the final commissioning position.

“The CCG has a number of key decisions to make in relation to priorities for future commissioning plans. Individual decisions cannot be made in isolation and the CCG will be supporting the Governing Body in making these decisions.

“The CCG will be reporting back on its commissioning decisions to the Governing Body at its meeting in August 2014.”

The Vale of York - which covers York, Selby, Tadcaster and Easingwold - had looked to be the only area in the UK not to offer the treatment after Scarborough and Ryedale this week voted to reintroduce IVF on the NHS.