by Peter Watt
Yesterday saw the publication by NICE of their latest guidance on the use of IVF by the NHS. It said that women should be able to access IVF quicker (ie younger) and also that the upper range of women able to access the treatment rises from 39-42 in England and Wales. This has to be seen as a good thing, a reflection of the continued advances in medical treatment. What was in the past impossible becomes possible.
Except read the small print. What NICE are doing is providing advice to NHS Trusts as to what they can do if they choose to. As Dr Sue Avery from the British Fertility Society told the BBC:
“It’s good that there’s the possibility there, but the funding does not match. I can’t see any prospect of it happening immediately. Our biggest concern is hanging on to the funding we’ve got.”
Now quick declaration of interest here; my wife Vilma and I underwent IVF. Initially we had treatment on the NHS and then went privately. We were successful and have a beautiful daughter as a result. But at the time we were incredibly lucky that where we lived was still offering treatment on the NHS. Plenty of others no longer did or offered a much more limited service. Because the reality of the NHS is that on a whole variety of fronts it rations treatment.
On Tuesday there was a story about a man who had had a gastric band on the NHS but who was left with large amounts of excessive abdominal skin. His local health service had refused to pay for his apronectomy and he was facing a bill of some £15-20,000.
