NHS West Essex CCG service changes - decisions announced

The governing body of NHS West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), met on Thursday 30 November at its board meeting in public and resolved the following decision in relation to IVF and Specialist Fertility Treatment Commissioning;

NHS West Essex CCG will fund one cycle of IVF for patients who meet the criteria set out in the policy.

This is a reduction in provision for the age group 23-39 years old from 2 cycles. For 40-42 year olds the provision will stay the same at 1 cycle.

For patients who have already been referred to a specialist IVF provider the current policy of funding 2 cycles for the 23-39 year old age group will stand.

These changes to the specialist fertility, including IVF, policy will not affect the provision of investigations and treatment under secondary care providers.

This decision follows a 10-week public consultation which included an extensive public engagement campaign of meetings, press coverage and a social media campaign. Responses were received from members of the public, special interest groups, clinicians, local wellbeing groups and providers of specialist fertility services.

The responses received made it evident that most people in west Essex wished to continue with NHS funding for specialist fertility services, including IVF, and with the reduction of cycles NHS West Essex CCG are pleased to have been able to do this.