Access to NHS-funded fertility treatment, including IVF, is an area of special interest to PET. Many people in need of treatment find themselves faced with the 'postcode' lottery, which means the level of NHS-funded care in England is restricted due to where they live, being in a same-sex relationship or other personal circumstances. BioNews has reported on this situation for over 25 years, below you will find a specially curated selection of articles aimed at giving you the bigger picture.
What is the criteria for accessing NHS-funded IVF?
Each Integrated Care Board (ICB) will have its own detailed fertility policy. This includes clinical as well as non-clinical eligibility criteria. The majority of ICBs offer a level of care which is below that recommended in the NICE Guideline.
What level of fertility treatment is available in my area?
PET reviews all available fertility policies, checking them each month to ensure accuracy. You can find out what level of treatment is available in your area using the PET Fertility Policy Tracker.
Explore this specially curated selection of articles about
IVF funding from the BioNews archive.
2024
Fertility Treatment for Single People: Who Should Pay?
PET's first face-to-face event since the pandemic discussed the potential for UK fertility funding for single people...
2023
Film: NHS Fertility Treatment – Wouldn't It Be NICE to Have a Workable Guideline?
This film documents a PET event about the funding and provision of fertility treatment, and what is meant by a 'full' cycle of IVF...
2023
More patients accessing IVF, but fewer receiving NHS funding
The Chair of the HFEA explains that more people than ever are having to pay for fertility services in the UK...
2023
The Power of Three IVF Cycles
Find out about the research commissioned by PET, looking at GP and NHS commissioner understanding of the NICE Fertility Guideline...
2022
North East London CCG proposes offering three funded IVF cycles
A clinical commissioning group is consulting on a single fertility policy that will provide eligible patients with three rounds of NHS-funded IVF...
2021
Postcode lottery persists for England's fertility patients
A national audit has highlighted regional differences in IVF funding, set by local clinical commissioning groups...
2020
Relationship status and BMI used to determine access to IVF
Relationship status and body mass index are being used to restrict people's access to NHS-funded treatment...
2019
Public benefits of children: A case for publicly funding fertility care
Tax-financed health systems are reliant on younger and healthier individuals paying into a system that is mostly consumed by older citizens...
2018
UK experts' call to action on IVF funding and multiple births
A report suggests that better IVF funding could decrease multiple pregnancies and the associated strain on the NHS...
2017
NHS Scotland to offer three cycles of IVF
New patients will now have access to three cycles of IVF on the NHS in Scotland...
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2016
Funding for IVF in England 'bleak'
13 clinical commissioning groups are considering making cuts to IVF funding, potentially removing the procedure on the NHS in some areas...
2015
'Worrying' trend in NHS IVF provision
The number of CCGs in England offering the recommended number of IVF cycles to its patients is falling...
2014
Commissioning decisions reveal the trivialisation of infertility
Clinical commissioners seem to view the national recommendations on fertility treatment as a sort of à la carte menu...
2012
UK couple 'too old' for publicly-funded IVF to sue the Health Secretary
A couple who were refused NHS fertility treatment have said they intend to challenge the decision in the courts...
2012
Level of IVF funding in UK among lowest in Europe
The funding of fertility treatment in the UK is among the lowest in Europe, according to a new study...
2011
'Health bodies shouldn't cut IVF funding', says public health minister
Anne Milton has said that NHS Primary Care Trusts should offer three cycles of IVF to eligible couples....
2011
NHS Warwickshire resumes fertility funding
NHS Warwickshire is to resume providing fertility services this month, after it suspended many routine procedures last summer amid financial concerns...
2010
Isle of Man 'halves' fertility treatment funding
Isle of Man couples wishing to undergo IVF will only have funds to complete one cycle of treatment, following a review of fertility care...
2008
Funding for IVF in the UK –over four years of waiting
Thousands of couples who need assisted conception treatment such as IVF or ICSI, in order to have a child, are not able to access NHS treatment...
2005
NHS-funded IVF – is it really so NICE out there?
The failure of the UK Government to provide NHS-funded IVF treatment is of increasing concern to many thousands of infertile couples...
2005
Long waits for free fertility treatment
The deadline for partial implementation of guidelines recommending free fertility treatment passed last week, and many are still facing lengthy waits...
2003
Lack of IVF on the NHS is driving the success of egg sharing
A row has erupted over egg sharing, where women are offered free or discounted IVF in return for their eggs...
2001
NICE to consider infertility and genetics guidelines
NICE has announced details of a work programme that will include guidelines for infertility services, and for managing genetic risk of familial breast cancer...
2000
Call to end 'postcode lottery' for fertility treatment
Fertility expert Robert Winston has described the provision of fertility treatment on the UK's health service as a 'shambles'...
1999
An upper age limit of 35 for women needing IVF is unacceptable
Speculation that the Department of Health will recommend an upper age limit for women needing IVF is alarming...
