#MyFertilityMatters: Lincolnshire MP to challenge health bosses on couples being denied NHS IVF because they have a stepchild
Caroline Johnson says she's shocked and saddened
A Lincolnshire MP’s offering political support to our campaign to stop people being denied IVF because their partner already has a child with someone else.
Earlier this week we heard about Sarah from Lincoln who's been trying to get pregnant but has been told she can't get treatment on the NHS because she already has a step-daughter.
Her MP, Dr Caroline Johnson, says she'll challenge local health bosses on the decision.
"I didn’t realise there was a restriction"
"If a woman has fertility problems and wants treatment for it then she should be entitled to that treatment regardless of whether the partner she’s wanting to have those children with has a child previously or not, because it’s her health problem that we’re treating.
"If the situation was reversed and she had a child, and he didn’t, then it would be his problem that we’re treating health wise."
"NHS treatment should be available to everybody"
"It made me feel very sad.
"As well as being a person, an MP and a doctor, I’m also a mum and the thought of being in that situation of being desperate to have children and not being able to, I can’t imagine how difficult that must be.
"To not give somebody that chance, when they have no children of their own at all, does seem unfair to me.
"Having children is a wonderful, wonderful gift and I wouldn’t like people to be unable to achieve that simply because they don’t have the money or because there’s a rule on the IVF criteria which excludes someone from the option of having any children of their own."
Caroline has made this promise to people affected.
"I will do my very best to ensure that these services are available to you.
"I understand that what you’re facing must be unbearably difficult and I will do everything I can to help to get these services for you."
"Postcode lottery should not exist at all"
Yesterday we heard how the postcode lottery is causing further issues as rules can differ depending on where you live.
Professor Geeta Nargund runs a private clinic, and is also a lead consultant for reproductive medicine.
"There is a deep inequality in access to fertility treatment and that should not be happening because as a national health service we should have consistency across our nation.
"Patients are distressed they are not able to get the funding when someone else they know in a different region, with exactly the same age and criteria, are able to access funding."
What is the IVF postcode lottery?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence fertility guidelines suggest who should have access to IVF treatment on the NHS.
But individual health groups, or CCGs, have the final say on who can have NHS-funded IVF in their area.
Many differ in their criteria for support, with some stricter than others, which means you can be offered different treatments depending on where you live.
Campaigners are calling for an end to this.
Lincolnshire CCG says it can't comment on individual cases.
"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."