Gareth MP responds to the NICE consultation on treatment for infertility
Date: Tue 22nd May 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gareth MP responds to the NICE consultation on treatment for infertility
Gareth Johnson MP for Dartford and Chairman of the APPG on Infertility has today responded to the announcement that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) will be consulting on proposed changes to their guidelines.
One of the key changes from the 2004 guidelines, featured in the new draft, is the recommendation that women aged 39 years and younger who have not conceived after two years of unexplained infertility should receive three full cycles of IVF on the NHS. It is also proposed that women up to 42 (rather than 39) should also be offered limited access to IVF treatment
Gareth said:
“I am extremely pleased with the suggestion that the NICE guidelines may offer older couples IVF treatment and allow earlier intervention for infertile couples.
There will always be a limit on the availability of IVF treatment but it is crucial that PCTs and the new GP consortiums allow infertile couples full access to IVF treatment in accordance with the guidelines. Sadly at present this is often not the case.
We know that currently only 27% of PCTs offer patients the recommended number of cycles of IVF treatments. In addition to this a number of PCTs are placing additional restrictions on infertile couples. If this continues then the new guidelines will be worthless.
There must therefore be a greater availability of IVF treatment. The NICE guidelines become meaningless if PCTs and the new GP consortiums ignore them.
IVF remains the most effective, cheapest and efficient treatment for infertility and so I hope that we will have wider availability for this wonderful British invention. One in seven couples suffer from infertility, it destroys relationships, causes depression and holds back the very creation of life. We have a chance now, with these new guidelines, to help change this.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Gareth Johnson on 02027 219 7047 or at [email protected]
A copy of the APPG report can be found at: http://www.garethjohnsonmp.co.uk/report-into-ivf-provision-in-england-and-wales-2011
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