I believe that it is fundamentally wrong to deny women without children IVF treatment in Lincolnshire because their partner has children from a previous relationship. I was therefore pleased to have been successful in pressing for a review into this matter after a constituent got in touch to say that she was not eligible to have treatment on the NHS due to being a stepmum.
The NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board has since confirmed that the IVF policy in Lincolnshire is being looked at as part of the wider East Midlands NHS ICBs review.
The Government states that it expects local NHS bodies to commission fertility services in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidelines, so that there is equitable access across England. Some individual Integrated Care Boards, however, set additional non-clinical criteria.
I have received an update from the NHS Lincolnshire ICB that this review work is progressing, although there remains a significant amount of work to consider and undertake.
I also understand that further consultation is required as part of the review. As such, it is hoped that the work will be completed and implemented in spring and I will be continuing to press for the review to be concluded as soon as possible.
