Action call on IVF waiting times

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/8314872.stm

Version 0 of 1.

Labour has called on the Scottish government to end what it claimed was a "postcode lottery" on IVF treatment.

Jackie Baillie MSP contacted every Scottish NHS board after a constituent approached her about the length of IVF waiting times in her area.

She said the responses showed a wide disparity in waiting times across the country.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said the government was working to make access as fair as possible.

Ms Baillie said she found that the longest average waiting times among the 11 boards she received responses from were in NHS Lothian, where patients have to wait three years for treatment.

Jackie Sansbury, director of strategic planning and modernisation at NHS Lothian, said: "NHS Lothian follows the guidelines established by the Scottish Government's Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland (Eagiss) group on the provision of fertility services.

It is unfair that patients in some parts of Scotland have to wait three years for treatment when others are treated in less than 12 months Jackie Baillie MSP

"In Lothian, unlike many other health boards, couples are offered three cycles of IVF. We are working with the Scottish Government and infertility services to establish a common pattern of provision across the country.

"As part of a review of our fertility services we are investing an additional £180,000 to increase the number of IVF cycles we are able to offer by around 40 per cent during 2009-2010."

In Fife the average waiting time was two years, while in Greater Glasgow and Clyde the waiting time was said to have been 21 months.

The shortest waiting time for IVF treatment was in NHS Borders where there was no waiting list and all patients were treated within six months of referral, Ms Baillie said.

'Huge demand'

Ms Baillie said: "It is unfair that patients in some parts of Scotland have to wait three years for treatment when others are treated in less than 12 months.

"It would also appear to be the case that patients coming from another health board area to a specialist centre can be treated quicker than my constituent who lives in the health board area with the specialist centre. Surely this cannot be fair?

"There is also no consistency in the rules. NHS Borders will fund patients for treatment in neighbouring areas if they have shorter waiting lists, but other health boards refuse to consider such a sensible step."

Ms Baillie said national guidelines were needed to ensure that patients in every part of Scotland were treated fairly and have access to treatment as quickly as possible.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "There is huge demand for IVF and we know it can be very upsetting to have to wait for treatment, but we are working to make access as fair as possible.

"We are funding Infertility Network Scotland - an organisation of past and present patients - to work with boards to ensure fairer access. Together they will consider the best ways to address waiting times and local differences in access to treatment.

"We're also setting up the Expert Group on Infertility to make recommendations on issues including waiting times. Within six months I expect them to submit an interim report to me and I expect to see quick progress on the ground too."