IVF on the NHS - the facts

To put the situation in North Yorkshire into perspective on a national scale:

There are 151 PCTs in England, each receiving their budget directly from the Department of Health.

In February 2004 NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) recommended that three cycles of IVF should be provided by the NHS if the woman is between 23 and 39 years old.

At that time the then Health Secretary, John Reid said that he expected all Primary Care Trusts to be offering at least one cycle by 2005, with the longer term aim of full implementation including three cycles of IVF per appropriate patient.

- In August 2008 only nine of the 151 PCTs offer three cycles.

- 138 PCTs offer just one or two cycles.

- North Yorkshire and York PCT remains one of the four remaining PCTs to refuse to offer ANY cycles of NHS funded IVF.

They should be ashamed.