UK fertility clinics' safety improves despite major incident

Incidents in UK fertility clinics remain rare, according to the annual State of the Fertility Sector 2023/24 report published by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

Out of almost 100,000 treatment and storage cycles conducted in the UK in the past year, more than 99 percent were carried out without reported incidents. In 2023/24, the HFEA performed 104 inspections, an increase from 85 in the previous year partly due to changes in license lengths during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, 581 incidents and near misses were reported to the HFEA, 52 fewer than in 2022/23 (see BioNews 1207). A single Grade A incident – something which had not occurred since 2019/20 – occurred at Homerton Fertility Clinic in 2023. The clinic's licence was temporarily suspended in March 2024, after a total of one category A and two category B incidents had been reported last year (see BioNews 1230). The suspension was lifted in August 2024, following corrective actions (see BioNews 1248).

'Incidents in fertility clinics are rare but distressing for those patients involved. It is a rare occurrence for the HFEA to suspend a clinic licence, but a necessary one where there is potential risk to patients, gametes and embryos' said Peter Thompson, chief executive of the HFEA. 'Patient care is always our priority, so it's promising to see that the number of serious incidents in fertility clinics remains low. Patients can continue to be reassured that the risk of an incident in their care is very small.'

In 2023/24, a total of 226 non-compliances were identified during HFEA inspections, with three percent (six cases) categorised as 'critical', compared to two percent (four cases) in the previous year. The HFEA also received 69 patient complaints, an increase of ten compared to 2022/23. Similarly to last year, many complaints concerned poor communication and clinical decisions made during the patient's care.

Currently, 135 clinics are licensed by the HFEA to provide fertility treatments, storage and/or research. While the number of clinics has remained consistent in recent years, five more clinics were offering treatment with storage in 2023/24, and fewer clinics were offering treatment only or storage only.

In addition, the HFEA, in conjunction with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, issued 16 Field Safety Notices in 2023/24 to alert clinics about potential risks with medical devices. Furthermore, the report noted 53 cases of severe and critical ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, corresponding to less than 0.1 percent of cycles and 11 fewer cases than last year.

Maximum donor compensation rates have also been revised by the HFEA due to the rise in inflation (see BioNews 1232). From 1 October 2024, egg donors may receive up to £985 (up from £750), while sperm donors may receive up to £45 per visit (up from £35).

'Academic research in the UK has consistently found that donating eggs and sperm is driven by altruism to help others to create much longed-for families' said Clare Ettinghausen, director of strategy and corporate affairs at the HFEA. 'There are very good reasons behind making sure that donation is an altruistic act.... The new compensation rates aim to maintain these values, while recognising that costs have increased since 2011.'