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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| IVF: Woman's anger at fertility changes after £30k spend | IVF: Woman's anger at fertility changes after £30k spend |
| (4 months later) | |
| Lucy Mills has spent about £30,000 on fertility treatment | Lucy Mills has spent about £30,000 on fertility treatment |
| Lucy Mills has spent about £30,000 on fertility treatment | Lucy Mills has spent about £30,000 on fertility treatment |
| A woman who has spent £30,000 trying for a baby has said fertility treatment changes would be a "backwards step." | A woman who has spent £30,000 trying for a baby has said fertility treatment changes would be a "backwards step." |
| Proposed plans in Wales would see women over 40 no longer able to access IVF treatment on the NHS, nor single people such as Lucy Mills, from Brecon, Powys. | Proposed plans in Wales would see women over 40 no longer able to access IVF treatment on the NHS, nor single people such as Lucy Mills, from Brecon, Powys. |
| But more heterosexual couples with a woman under 40 could get access. | But more heterosexual couples with a woman under 40 could get access. |
| The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC), which commissions specialist NHS services, said it was normal to review policies. | The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC), which commissions specialist NHS services, said it was normal to review policies. |
| Ms Mills, 38, has been trying to have a baby for the past 18 months, deciding to go it alone after she split up from her long term partner in 2020. | Ms Mills, 38, has been trying to have a baby for the past 18 months, deciding to go it alone after she split up from her long term partner in 2020. |
| She has lost three pregnancies after several rounds of private IUI treatment, a form of artificial insemination, and is now eligible for IVF on the NHS. | She has lost three pregnancies after several rounds of private IUI treatment, a form of artificial insemination, and is now eligible for IVF on the NHS. |
| But because she is single, she would not be able to receive the treatment under the new plans. | But because she is single, she would not be able to receive the treatment under the new plans. |
| Calls to regulate 'cruel' IVF add-ons | Calls to regulate 'cruel' IVF add-ons |
| Why a single man turned to IVF for fatherhood | Why a single man turned to IVF for fatherhood |
| "Becoming a parent on your own is much more common these days, so it's a huge backwards step," she said. | "Becoming a parent on your own is much more common these days, so it's a huge backwards step," she said. |
| "I do feel like it's a form of discrimination. It's not a lifestyle choice for me, I haven't chosen to be in this situation but I do really want to become a mother. | "I do feel like it's a form of discrimination. It's not a lifestyle choice for me, I haven't chosen to be in this situation but I do really want to become a mother. |
| "It has been very stressful, very emotional, very difficult. | "It has been very stressful, very emotional, very difficult. |
| "I have spent about £30,000 at this point, so that's all of my savings for a house deposit plus I have had to put some of it on credit cards." | "I have spent about £30,000 at this point, so that's all of my savings for a house deposit plus I have had to put some of it on credit cards." |
| Ms Mills fears the changes could see her and others pushed further into debt to try and fund their dream of having a baby, saying " it shouldn't be like that". | Ms Mills fears the changes could see her and others pushed further into debt to try and fund their dream of having a baby, saying " it shouldn't be like that". |
| As part of the proposed plans, eligible couples must have been together for two years and have an infertility diagnosis. | As part of the proposed plans, eligible couples must have been together for two years and have an infertility diagnosis. |
| Lucy Mills does not want to give up her dream of having a baby, but may not be able to afford treatments | Lucy Mills does not want to give up her dream of having a baby, but may not be able to afford treatments |
| The mandatory 12-month wait before IVF treatment can begin would be dropped and the body mass index range for those accessing treatment would increase to 18-35 from 19-30. | The mandatory 12-month wait before IVF treatment can begin would be dropped and the body mass index range for those accessing treatment would increase to 18-35 from 19-30. |
| Same sex couples would still be eligible after 12 cycles of IUI treatment, up from six, but the one cycle for women over 40 would be scrapped. | Same sex couples would still be eligible after 12 cycles of IUI treatment, up from six, but the one cycle for women over 40 would be scrapped. |
| IUI treatment is not funded by WHSSC but decided by individual health boards, so there may be regional differences in whether people need to privately fund or gain NHS access. | IUI treatment is not funded by WHSSC but decided by individual health boards, so there may be regional differences in whether people need to privately fund or gain NHS access. |
| A public consultation is open until 17 February. | A public consultation is open until 17 February. |
| Access to fertility treatment differs across the UK, with Scotland offering three IVF cycles to couples, Wales offering two, while decisions are made at a local level in England. | Access to fertility treatment differs across the UK, with Scotland offering three IVF cycles to couples, Wales offering two, while decisions are made at a local level in England. |
| Emma Rees, Fertility Network UK's Wales coordinator, said she was "angered and aghast" at the proposals. | Emma Rees, Fertility Network UK's Wales coordinator, said she was "angered and aghast" at the proposals. |
| "We urge fertility patients to make your voices heard and let the WHSSC know how you feel about these suggested dramatic cuts to NHS fertility treatment in Wales." | "We urge fertility patients to make your voices heard and let the WHSSC know how you feel about these suggested dramatic cuts to NHS fertility treatment in Wales." |
| Prof Iolo Doull for the WHSCC said: "We can reassure our patients, public and stakeholders that it is a normal part of our work to regularly review policies, ensuring that they reflect the most up-to-date clinical evidence and needs of the wider NHS in Wales to continually improve clinical services and outcomes for patients." | Prof Iolo Doull for the WHSCC said: "We can reassure our patients, public and stakeholders that it is a normal part of our work to regularly review policies, ensuring that they reflect the most up-to-date clinical evidence and needs of the wider NHS in Wales to continually improve clinical services and outcomes for patients." |
| He said Fertility Network UK was part of the stakeholder group being consulted. | He said Fertility Network UK was part of the stakeholder group being consulted. |
| The Welsh government said: "All clinicians should support families of any composition with fertility issues and may refer them into specialist services where appropriate. | The Welsh government said: "All clinicians should support families of any composition with fertility issues and may refer them into specialist services where appropriate. |
| "Welsh Health Specialist Services review clinical commissioning advice regularly and advise on the basis of clinical effectiveness. We encourage the public to respond to the consultation." | "Welsh Health Specialist Services review clinical commissioning advice regularly and advise on the basis of clinical effectiveness. We encourage the public to respond to the consultation." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Wales | |
| Brecon | Brecon |
| Fertility | Fertility |
| Women | Women |
| Welsh government | Welsh government |
| IVF | IVF |
| NHS Wales | NHS Wales |