Anger at health chiefs in IVF row

11:56am Wednesday 25th July 2007

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THE lack of infertility treatment in North Yorkshire is under the spotlight after an influential group of MPs said three cycles of IVF should be offered on the NHS.

Now the chairwoman of a national infertility campaign group has hit out at the county's health chiefs for suspending IVF treatment in all but exceptional cases.

Clare Brown, chairman of the National Infertility Awareness Campaign, said: "I'm extremely saddened by it to the point of being angry.

"You have to put yourself in the position of couples who need infertility treatment. Infertility is emotionally and physically devastating."

Ms Brown was speaking after the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infertility (APPGI) published a report yesterday which called on the Government to ensure at least one cycle of IVF was routinely offered on the NHS. At the moment, different numbers of cycles are offered in different areas.

The group said moves should be put in place to make sure the full three cycles recommended by NICE (the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) were offered as well.

This was important because it made it more likely that couples would accept the offer of a "single embryo transfer".

At the moment, many couples opt to have more than one embryo implanted if they are only given one cycle of IVF on the NHS - thinking this will increase their chances of getting pregnant.

But yesterday's report said this also increased the risk of IVF couples having twins - which was more dangerous for mums-to-be.

The cash-strapped North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) suspended IVF in January as part of a series of money-saving measures.

Treatment in this county is now only available for exceptional cases which must go before a controversial prior approval panel - which The Press has campaigned against, supported by more than 2,000 readers.

IVF, which costs the NHS about £3,500 for one treatment, is not up for review in North Yorkshire until next April.

In the meantime, hundreds of local couples have now been forced to wait more than a year extra to be in with a chance of treatment - their chances of successful pregnancy dwindling as they get older.

One victim of the cuts is Donna Hartley, 32, from Clifton, who now faces waiting three years to get IVF.

She said: "Personally I think it's much better to have three single cycles - it gives you a bit more hope instead of just the one go - but you can't even get one in York at the moment.

"I'm on a three year waiting list. He (the doctor) said to us our chances are substantially reduced when you're 36 and I will be 36 in three years time." The PCT has said it is continuing to pay for investigations into infertility, and women with an "exceptional need" will be considered for treatment.