Our campaign to get stepmums IVF treatment on the NHS gets raised in Parliament
Couples are being denied support simply because they have a stepchild in the family
Last updated 24th May 2022
Calls to stop thousands of women missing out on IVF treatment on the NHS, simply because they’re already a stepmum, have been raised in Parliament.
It's after our sister station Lincs FM launched a campaign called #MyFertilityMatters after being approached by Sarah Barker from Lincoln.
She couldn't access treatment to help her conceive because her partner already has a daughter from another relationship.
It led to a petition being launched, calling for an end to the fertility postcode lottery.
"Time isn't on my side"
Sarah spoke to our reporter Aaron Renfree:
"I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong.
"If anything, I’ve sacrificed a lot of my life to help support my partner in partially raising his child with him and with her mum and stepdad.
"I’m already being betrayed by my own body, why should I be betrayed by the local CCGs that are basically enforcing this?"
"It's almost as if I'm being punished"
"It's like you're grieving a child you've not had yet.
"I'm not having that opportunity to be able to be a mum and it's that craving you have, that heartache and longing for a baby.
"I was being told 5 years ago that I'm still young, don't worry about it, nothing has changed over that time.
"I still haven't become pregnant, I still haven't had a baby, I still haven't had that opportunity.
"Time isn't on my side now."
Our campaign led to the issue being raised in parliament
Now, just a week after our campaign, her local MP, Dr Caroline Johnson, has raised the issue in Parliament.
"Mr Speaker, IVF treatment is a lifeline for many people desperate to conceive like my constituent Sarah Barker who dreams of being a mother but sadly suffers from an infertility problem.
"Sarah is being refused IVF treatment on the grounds that her partner already has a daughter from a previous relationship.
"Her petition to stop denying women fertility treatment for this reason has already reached almost 13,000 signatures.
"Does my Right Honourable Friend agree with me that treatment for infertility should be available based on the medical needs of the women involved, and not affected by the partner that she has fallen in love with having a child from a previous relationship."
"We are aware of some variations in access, and we are looking at how we can address that"
Health Minister Helen Whately’s agreed to look into it.
"Could I thank my Honourable Friend for raising this question and the situation of her constituents.
"What I can say is that we expect Clinical Commissioning Groups to commission fertility services in line with NICE guidelines so that there is equitable access across England.
"We are aware of some variations in access, and we are looking at how we can address that.
"Very specifically CCGs should not be using criteria outside that NICE fertility guidance."
Lincolnshire CCG, where campaigner Sarah Barker is based, gave this statement:
"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."