The Financial Times (FT) contacted PET to ask if they update their readers on the NHS-funding of IVF by using our Fertility Policy Tracker. Like PET, the journalist Laura Hughes thinks that the Government should be held to account for failing to improve access.
PET was pleased to work with the FT to shine a light on the downturn in NHS-funding over the last 12 months.
Our Fertility Policy Tracker data showed that 29 of the 42 integrated care boards (ICBs), which control NHS budgets locally, now only offer one cycle of fertility treatment rather than the three recommended by NICE.
In the FT article, PET Director Sarah Norcross was quoted saying 'For more than 20 years, NICE has recommended that the NHS should provide three full cycles of IVF to any woman under 40 years of age, who needs them. Disgracefully, this recommendation has never been implemented across England.'
PET will continue to keep the Fertility Policy Tracker up to date each month.
Unfortunately the article in the FT is behind a paywall and so you may not be able to read the article.
For more information on this issue see BioNews.