Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has stood up for women in the south who are unable to access IVF treatment in line with national guidelines.
According to recommendations made by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), women up to the age of 40 who have not conceived for two years should receive three rounds of IVF treatment on the NHS. However, commissioners at NHS South have stipulated that this rule should be reduced to include only women below the age of 35 and that they should receive just one round of treatment.
Caroline has written to the Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), urging them to reassess the regional policy and consider aligning it with the rules implemented in other areas of the UK.
Speaking against the current policy, Caroline said:
"It's saddening that women in our region are being denied the opportunity to have children as a result of rules which do not correlate with national recommendations. Although NICE guidelines are not mandatory, it must be very upsetting for women who fall victim to the postcode lottery for IVF treatment.
Hearing that commissioners across the whole of the east and north east of England are able to provide these services proves that it is possible. I understand that resources are scarce but I sincerely hope that Fareham and Gosport CCG will call on NHS South to see if there is anything they can do about their existing policy."
Fareham and Gosport CCG cited a number of reasons for the strict rules on IVF treatment, including value for money and a lack of funding.