Department To Aid PCT Implementation Of NICE Fertility Guidance, UK

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 27 Jul 2006 - 16:00 PDT

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Infertility Network UK (I N UK) has been asked by the Department of Health to work with Primary Care Trusts in England to encourage implementation of the NICE guideline on the assessment and treatment of people with fertility problems.

In a new project, I N UK will be working to ensure that the voices of fertility patients are heard when decisions about the provision of services are made at a local level. It will also seek to share best practice across PCTs in implementing the guideline, including chlamydia screening.

The NICE guideline was produced in February 2004 with the aim of ensuring that infertile couples received fairer and faster access to treatment. Amongst other recommendations, it called for them to be offered up to three full cycles of IVF.

However there are still unacceptable inequalities in the funding of treatment around the country and couples face huge difficulties in accessing services.

I N UK is a member of the National Infertility Awareness Campaign (NIAC), which has campaigned for over 10 years for fair and equal access for those with an established clinical need to a full range of services for the investigation and treatment of infertility on the NHS.

Announcing the project, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint MP said,

"We recognise that progress in the provision of fertility services is taking longer in some areas than in others, as it is influenced by local circumstances and the point from which PCTs were starting. However, persistent inequality of provision is hard to bear, and hard to understand, for those affected."

Infertility affects around one in seven couples in the UK and those who are denied access to appropriate treatment for it face profound psychological and emotion strain. However, excellent results can be achieved in treating infertility if a patient is rapidly investigated and referred for appropriate treatment.

Clare Brown, Chief Executive of Infertility Network UK and Chair of the National Infertility Awareness Campaign, welcomed the launch of the project, saying,

"The pain and distress caused by infertility can never be under-estimated. It can have profound consequences for the health and wellbeing of those suffering from it, which are often made worse by a lack of access to appropriate treatment.

"Despite Government calls for treatment to be made available, many patients are still facing huge problems accessing it. North Lincolnshire PCT recently stopped funding infertility treatment and we have recently been made aware of a consultation by Gloucester Health Community which proposes to halt their funding for fertility treatment. I N UK is looking forward to working with PCTs towards achieving full implementation of NICE guideline as quickly as possible to ensure that couples receive fair and equal access to the treatment they need."

The National Infertility Awareness Campaign (NIAC) is an umbrella body formed in 1993 with support, which it continues to enjoy, from a wide range of organisations involved in the field of infertility, including infertility charities, patient support groups, healthcare professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. NIAC campaigns for fair and equal access for those with an established clinical need to a full range of services for the investigation and treatment of infertility on the NHS.

http://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/niac.php

I N UK is a national charity that provides the largest support network in the UK for all those experiencing or affected by infertility. As well as offering authoritative information and advice, and practical and emotional support, I N UK works to raise the profile and understanding of infertility issues and the need for timely and consistent provision of infertility care throughout the UK.

http://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com

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