Darlington mam mourns the loss of IVF services in Hartlepool
Stacey Donnelly struggled for four years to conceive before receiving treatment at University Hospital of Hartlepool.
A North East mam who received IVF treatment at a Hartlepool hospital says her 'heart sank' when she heard their services are now coming to an end.
Stacey Donnelly from Darlington struggled to conceive for four years, before having treatment at University Hospital of Hartlepool.
She's now the proud mam of two twin boys.
It was revealed earlier this week that North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust will no longer provide licensed fertility treatment, including IVF.
Hospital bosses say they've made the decision reluctantly after a review of services at the assisted reproduction unit.
They claim they couldn't recruit enough embryologists to safely carry on the current service.
Medical director David Emerton said: “This decision is not a reflection of the quality of the service which has been provided for a number of years by the trust."
"We understand that this decision will be disappointing for patients."
"We have made every effort for some time to recruit, however we cannot continue to provide all aspects of the current service safely due to an inability to recruit embryologists.”
Stacey said she would have considered going back to the hospital to have further private treatment, but that option has been taken away.
The 26-year-old said: "My heart sank a little bit just knowing that my little boys were made there and it was such a big part of my life, it's a bit sad really.
"The staff were absolutely brilliant.
"Nothing was too much trouble for them even though you could see they were totally busy and rushed off their feet.
"It's such a nice unit and it's all quite high-tech with lovely staff, it just seems a waste of such a good resource really."
MPs have also voiced their concern at the loss of fertility services in the region.
Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham said: “It is extremely sad to see another service provided by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust is to be lost to residents north of the River Tees – this time because they can’t recruit the expert staff needed."
“There have been warnings time and again that the hospital can often struggle to recruit the expert medical staff they require to provide the services needed by people in our area.
“I know people are fond of their local hospital but cannot for the life of me understand why patients in the South can access the best of facilities in new hospitals whilst those in the North just have to make do.”