Delays to NHS fertility treatment uncovered

A third (32 percent) of NHS fertility patients in 2021 had waited over 18 months for treatment, compared to just under one in four (22 percent) who had only private treatment.

In total, 28 percent of fertility patients treated in the last two years were affected by referral delays due to COVID-19. Over 1200 patients were surveyed as part of the 2021 National Patient Survey, undertaken by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). This was the second survey of its kind and followed one completed in 2018.

'The journey to parenthood is sadly not always an easy one and we know treatment delays caused by COVID-19 have for many, compounded this further' said HFEA chair Julia Chain. 'Delays in referral or treatments for gynaecological conditions may delay fertility, and as success of having a baby after treatment declines with age, healthcare professionals must be mindful of the emotional impact this may have for patients, particularly for women over the age of 35.'

Seventy-two percent of patients reported they were satisfied with their latest experience of fertility treatment, a decrease of two percent since the last survey in 2018. Though the survey detected no differences in satisfaction between NHS and privately funded patients they did discover that there was lower satisfaction with the overall experience of fertility treatment when costs were different from those expected among private patients.

The highest levels of dissatisfaction arose from clarity of information specific to the individual patient. While communication by clinics was generally reported to be clear, only 68 percent of surveyed patients said that their own chances of successful treatment had been made clear. Additionally, only 61 percent said that their own individual risks had been clarified, although this was higher for ethnic minority and older women, whose risks are generally higher.

Less than half (47 percent) of patients who spoke to their GP were satisfied with their experience. The length of time patients had to wait for treatment, whether or not their treatment was successful and whether or not they were affected by pandemic and referral delays affected their level of satisfaction.

Add-ons were used by 65 percent of patients with 33 percent using acupuncture. Private care was associated with increased usage of all types of add-ons including endometrial scratching and time-lapse imaging.

Chain said: 'As the UK's fertility regulatory, we want every patient accessing fertility services to receive high-quality care, and although 72 percent are satisfied, it's disappointing that nearly 30 percent of patients who took part in this survey are not'. The HFEA said that the findings of the report 'will inform the work of the HFEA for years to come'.