A response from North Yorkshire and York PCT

Earlier this week I wrote about the Government's letter to all PCTs regarding their provision of IVF and other assisted fertility treatments. I said I would be speaking to our PCT and I finally managed to get through to the right person yesterday (name withheld). I was told that they have yet to receive the letter, although they are aware of it.

The person I spoke to about it was very candid and open about their position and said they would have to wait until they receive the letter, read through the details of the proposal in full and decide on a way of implementing things. She was quick to admit that it will take some time before things can be changed and that we should not expect any quick decisions.

So, here we are, still not even able to get onto a waiting list, never mind get any treatment. The PCT will not even give us a target date for the re-provision of the service. This is simply because our PCT overspent so wastefully and shamefully which led to them withdrawing a treatment that the Government and NICE have repeatedly said should be provided on the NHS. This is also in spite of them being aware that the Health Minister has, just this week, written to them again to tell them they should be providing a full three cycles of IVF including frozen embryo provision. But what do residents under the juristiction of North Yorkshire and York PCT get? A new car park at York hospital.

The comment I found particularly surprising was 'I will be the happiest person in the world when I can tell couples they can have IVF treatment in North Yorkshire'. Somehow I do not think she will be happier than the people being told they no longer have to find countless thousands of pounds to fund the treatment that 95% of the UK gets access to on the NHS.

Fresh pressure on PCTs to provide IVF

Following a meeting by the Expert Group on Commissioning NHS Infertility Provision, the Government's Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, has written to all PCTs to recommend that three courses of IVF should be provided to all eligible couples, rather than the one course that 95% of PCTs now offer, writes The Times. It us such a shame that North Yorkshire and York PCT remains one of three PCTs to offer no IVF treatment whatsoever.

I will be contacting them next week to see if this new recomendation will finally make them shift from their position, compel them to act positively and think with compassion towards couples struggling to conceive rather than looking into their collective wallets.