In September 2008 we forwarded this Blog and the list of comments everyone kindly left. Almost four months later they decided to respond. Of course it is not good news and we had already found out for ourselves (and posted here) regarding the current situation.
15/01/2009
Dear Mr and Mrs (Postcode Losers)
Thank you for your email dated 23 September 2008 with regard to IVF and sub fertility services, and for enclosing a copy/print out of your blog, which I have read with interest. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to you.
As you are aware, in May 2007, the PCT took the very difficult decision not to routinely commission assisted conception services for the majority of couples (other than those where the female partner was approaching 39 years and 6 months) and at that point, the waiting list held by Leeds General Infirmary was closed to new patients. We do regret that this is a far from ideal situation but unfortunately, as Janet Soo Chung's letter to all patients pointed out, it was felt necessary to take this action in the face of the severe financial deficit which the PCT faced at that time.
Since then, I am pleased to report that the financial situation has improved and we have now been able to re-assess the situation for financial year 2009/10 with regard to funding of assisted conception services. Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to re-open the waiting list to new patients. However, we have been able to agree to treat all those patients who were placed on the Leeds General Infirmary NHS waiting list on or before May 2007. From next month onwards, patients will begin to be called through in priority order of having been placed on the waiting list for a review clinic outpatient appointment with a view to treatment following as soon as clinically appropriate.
Once all the waiting list patients have been treated, the PCT will review the position with regard to whether or not new patients can once again be added to the waiting list.
You may be interested to know that two senior members of PCT staff recently met with Clare Lewis-Jones, Chief Executive of Infertility Network UK, for a full and open discussion about infertility services for North Yorkshire patients.
I hope you find this information helpful, however if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Jayne Brown OBE
Interim Chief Executive
Showing posts with label Funding for IVF treatment in Yorkshire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Funding for IVF treatment in Yorkshire. Show all posts
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Friday, 12 September 2008
No news is bad news
It is over two weeks since we emailed every member of North Yorkshire and York PCT's Clinical Leadership Programme with details of our situation and giving them the list of comments left on our petition.
Not one person, not a single solitary person had the good grace to reply to us, to give us feedback on the current situation.
It is one thing being in this dreadful position in the first place, but it is another thing entirely for every member of the team charged with running our PCT to completely ignore us.
It sums up just what these people think about dealing with the public they are paid to serve.
Not one person, not a single solitary person had the good grace to reply to us, to give us feedback on the current situation.
It is one thing being in this dreadful position in the first place, but it is another thing entirely for every member of the team charged with running our PCT to completely ignore us.
It sums up just what these people think about dealing with the public they are paid to serve.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
The report of shame
I have just come across this interesting report (you can download the full report at the bottom of the article) - it was completed on 23 June 2008 and shows just what IVF provision each of the nation's PCTs offers. It seems that us in the North Yorkshire and York PCT area really are the poor relations when it comes to the provision.
We really do not see how our PCT can sit back and do nothing - surely they must feel ashamed that almost every other PCT across England offers at least one cycle of treatment.
In fact, the exact wording of their statement shows that the treatment they may offer is even more restrictive than they have led us to believe - they say they have a 'financial contingency for patients on waiting list reaching age 39 who are deemed exceptional'. So - they told us they will treat women between 39.5 years old and their 40th birthday OR in exceptional circumstances when, in fact, they MAY treat them if they decide the circumstances are acceptable.
So the tiny crack in their creaking window has been pushed shut even more.
North Yorkshire and York PCT - you should be ashamed of your inaction.
We really do not see how our PCT can sit back and do nothing - surely they must feel ashamed that almost every other PCT across England offers at least one cycle of treatment.
In fact, the exact wording of their statement shows that the treatment they may offer is even more restrictive than they have led us to believe - they say they have a 'financial contingency for patients on waiting list reaching age 39 who are deemed exceptional'. So - they told us they will treat women between 39.5 years old and their 40th birthday OR in exceptional circumstances when, in fact, they MAY treat them if they decide the circumstances are acceptable.
So the tiny crack in their creaking window has been pushed shut even more.
North Yorkshire and York PCT - you should be ashamed of your inaction.
Friday, 29 August 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, 24 July 2008
In the papers
To help raise awareness of the situation regarding the lack of funding for IVF and other assisted conception methods in the North Yorkshire PCT area, I had a telephone interview with the Harrogate Advertiser yesterday. They have said that they are very surprised to hear about the lack of provision and were very happy to run an article about it in this week's edition. They also said that they will consider running more stories about it over the coming months.
Of course we are not naïve enough to think that things will happen overnight and that we will suddenly get to the front of what will be a long waiting list should it ever be re-opened, but we strongly feel that something needed to be said. infertility is often something couples are ashamed of and they will not stand up to have their voices heard. We fear that it is precicely for that reason that the PCT decided they could afford to withdraw the service in the first place.
We will post up next week once we have seen the final piece and we hope that it may help us and all the other couples in similar situations across North Yorkshire
Of course we are not naïve enough to think that things will happen overnight and that we will suddenly get to the front of what will be a long waiting list should it ever be re-opened, but we strongly feel that something needed to be said. infertility is often something couples are ashamed of and they will not stand up to have their voices heard. We fear that it is precicely for that reason that the PCT decided they could afford to withdraw the service in the first place.
We will post up next week once we have seen the final piece and we hope that it may help us and all the other couples in similar situations across North Yorkshire
Monday, 14 July 2008
My meeting with our local MP, Phil Willis
This morning I had an apointment to see our MP, Phil Willis, to discuss the issue of North Yorkshire PCT's refusal to fund any form of assisted conception.
It was an interesting meeting, interesting in that I heard what I already expected to be the case - that he had already lobbied the PCT over their position on behalf of other constituents unsuccesfully.
The PCT continues to state, in a rather non-committal manner, that it will review its position on funding later this year. Mr Willis stated that he would be contacting both the PCT over the non-committal wording of the last correspondence he received and that he would also be writing to Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson, Secretary of State to put the question to him that the so-called postcode lottery still exists and that his constituents have found themselves in the tiny minority of the UK's population that cannot receive any help towards the cost of IVF treatment simply because other districts covered by the PCT mis-managed their budgets in the past.
It was an interesting meeting, interesting in that I heard what I already expected to be the case - that he had already lobbied the PCT over their position on behalf of other constituents unsuccesfully.
The PCT continues to state, in a rather non-committal manner, that it will review its position on funding later this year. Mr Willis stated that he would be contacting both the PCT over the non-committal wording of the last correspondence he received and that he would also be writing to Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson, Secretary of State to put the question to him that the so-called postcode lottery still exists and that his constituents have found themselves in the tiny minority of the UK's population that cannot receive any help towards the cost of IVF treatment simply because other districts covered by the PCT mis-managed their budgets in the past.
Friday, 11 July 2008
Our petition to North Yorkshire PCT to fund IVF
***************
INSTRUCTIONS
***************
Click on the 'Comment' link at the bottom of this page to register on our petition - we shall pass the results on to North Yorkshire PCT.
Please feel free to post any comments, experiences and thoughts along with your name and home town if you wish.
Remember that the decision by North Yorkshire PCT was a purely financial one. 95% of the UK are able to receive assisted fertility treatment on the NHS. An official recommendation was made by the Government that it should be provided and this was backed up by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Yet North Yorkshire PCT remains one of four PCTs that refuse to offer the service unless the patient meets a very strict criteria - the female must be between 39 years 6 months and 40 years old or have 'exceptional clinical circumstances'.
INSTRUCTIONS
***************
Click on the 'Comment' link at the bottom of this page to register on our petition - we shall pass the results on to North Yorkshire PCT.
Please feel free to post any comments, experiences and thoughts along with your name and home town if you wish.
Remember that the decision by North Yorkshire PCT was a purely financial one. 95% of the UK are able to receive assisted fertility treatment on the NHS. An official recommendation was made by the Government that it should be provided and this was backed up by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Yet North Yorkshire PCT remains one of four PCTs that refuse to offer the service unless the patient meets a very strict criteria - the female must be between 39 years 6 months and 40 years old or have 'exceptional clinical circumstances'.
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