#MyFertilityMatters: Support continues to grow for couples denied NHS IVF for having stepchildren
A petition, with over 12,000 signatures, is gaining momentum
More and more people are signing a petition, challenging rules which deny couples NHS IVF treatment because there's already a stepchild in the family.
Over 12-thousand have shared their support.
It comes after we exposed the restrictions earlier this week.
Caroline Maxwell from Scunthorpe asked for help in 2008 and was turned down because her husband had a son from a previous marriage.
She had to choose between paying her bills and mortgage or going private.
"You never get over it, you never do"
"The recession hit and you have to make choices, do you pay your bills and mortgage? Or do you pay for IVF?
"We decided we were going to pay our bills and mortgage so unfortunately; we couldn’t go private like they recommended us.
"It was a horrible time and a horrible decision to have to make and yet there’s this young woman, who was in the same situation as me over 10 years ago and they’re still saying, 'no, you’re not having it'.
"It infuriates me, it makes me angry that they’re doing this."
"All savings for buying a house or just that back-up money that you like to have in case your car breaks down, that’s all gone"
Klara Halpin’s offering her support after she was turned down for NHS IVF because her partner has 2 sons from a previous relationship.
"We've now spent over £10,000 by going private.
"You’re back and forth for scans and check-ups and you don’t really want to be travelling so then you’re staying in the cheapest hotels you can find.
"Everything starts building up.
"Luckily family have helped us out because we could never ever afford it on our own."
Lincolnshire CCG says the criteria is based on guidance by experts.
"The IVF policy agreed across the East Midland CCGs, and adopted by NHS Lincolnshire CCG, applies to any couple registered with a Lincolnshire GP and is available on our website.
"It sets out the eligibility criteria, which includes family structure, that applies irrespective of where patients have their treatment, and has been drawn up based on guidance issued by DHSC, Infertility Network UK and NICE Guidance CG156."