NHS IVF policy change

[Bambamrubblesmum]

Have you seen this?

www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/rip-ivf-nhs-cuts-to-fertility-treatment-will-deny-thousands-parenthood-a6717326.html

I can see both sides of the argument but AIBU to feel very sad that it's come to this

[Goondoit]

It is sad. It's also sad it's such a postcode lottery...so so difficult

[Rogue1234]

It is sad. We've spent £14,000 on fertility treatment so far because we're not eligible for funding - a same sex couple with no known fertility problems - and still no baby to show for it

[mouldycheesefan]

Postcode lottery is awful. We had no NHS treatment for icsi because our postcode didn't offer it at the time, we went private.
I think a concsistent approach across the country would help couples because it can feel very unfair to people.
It must be very very difficult if you can't afford the treatment that would be heartbreaking.

[rainingkitsandpups]

It's very sad. But watching "the hospital" brings it home that the NHS has a chronic shortfall of funds and it needs to focus on illness and not luxurious extras.

And I KNOW people who need IVF won't see it as a luxury but that's the way of the world. We can't afford to provide everything that everyone wants and the NHS has to prioritise. Cancer treatments are more important than IVF and that's just sad but true.

[Bambamrubblesmum]

That's exactly what I was thinking mouldy to not be able to have the treatment because you simply cannot afford it

[Snowflakes1122]

Whilst I'd hope it meant more money goes towards cancer treatment, I can't help but think the extra money saved from cutting ivf won't be put back into the NHS. So lose lose situation.

[Mehfruittea]

Very sad to read about this. I'm cuddling my DS right now, he wouldn't be here without NHS IVF. To know others won't have this opportunity is heartbreaking tbh.

[allegretto]

It's so unfair. IVF is not a lifestyle choice, it's a medical procedure. And this wouldn't be necessary if the NHS got the money promised by the Leave campaign.

[mouldycheesefan]

Exactly, cutting ivf does not mean more life saving cancer treatments.
The NHS is inefficient in so many ways its bonkers.

[Frazzledmum123]

I don't see having a child as a luxury at all, I think it is fundamentally necessary to some, if not most people's happiness and mental health is just as important as physical health. I know that won't be a popular train of thought but I know people who cannot afford to pay private but don't qualify for NHS. I can't imagine not having children, it is all I ever wanted and felt like what I was born for (despite being s bit crap at it), I count my lucky stars we were relatively problem free. So sad

[Burntbum]

Fertility treatment hasn't been funded in our area for at least the eight years that we've lived here.

[VladmirsPoutine]

I'd just like to point out that there's a woman currently being treated by the NHS who does not reside here, never paid a single penny towards tax here but yet gave birth to quads - granted she was not a healthcare tourist but it really does go to show. Her weekly costs amounts to the thousands. Yet Joe Bloggs and his wife can't even get a free prescription.

[SukeyTakeItOffAgain]

It was only a matter of time 😞

Everything is being cut to shreds, everything. Nothing is being invested in and being developed. What a sad, narrow country we're becoming.

[Coldilox]

What would you suggest Vladmirs, that she and her babies should have been left to die?

[nottinghamgal]

It is sad very sad but I doubt there are many other countries in the world that offer it free.

[PlayOnWurtz]

I say this as someone with fertility issues but I'm glad. It's expensive and not a medical necessity.

[RedAndYellowStripe]

Healthcare in the uk isn't free. We are all paying for it through our taxes. Like it is in most countries (bar the US where everything has to be private insurance...)

[BonnyScotland]

I also agree with the decision taken by NHS regarding IVF ... I think a great many other procedures should be looked at too ...

[Ilikesweetpeas]

As the parent of a child conceived though NHS IVF I find this so so heartbreaking. I dread to think of the state my mental health would be had I not been able to access this. I was close to breakdown with the stress of infertility. We should address health tourism...

[allegretto]

nottinghamgal - I got it "free" in Italy (where I pay taxes) and I already had a son. It is allowed here whether or not you already have children if it is for a medical reason.

[RedAndYellowStripe]

Fwiw in France you can get 4 IVF treatments under the French healthcare service. It is fully reimbursed.

[SemiNormal]

Very sad. If this was a last resort and other 'treatments' had been knocked on the head first I could understand (IF the money WAS going to go back into the NHS). I know a woman in her 30s who has never worked a day in her life, apparently has a bad back yet was able to go skydiving, clubbing etc, she LOVES clubbing and is always about in skippy clothes, a couple of years back she went to the GP complaining about her small breasts and had a boob job done, only they weren't that small to begin with and they clearly weren't causing her enough distress to not have them flashing about in tiny tops all the time. Same woman recently had veneers done on the NHS. I imagine she's not the only one - in fact my neighbour also had veneers done on the NHS. Get rid of crap like this unless extreme cases first then talk about other treatments!!

[NataliaOsipova]

It's a tricky one. But I think we do have to remember that the NHS was never set up to offer cradle to grave provision of all things to all people. There have to be spending priorities.

[BakeOffBiscuits]

This sort of thing is going to keep happening and I do think we need to reasse the whole NHS.

Our population is growing, everyday new medicines are being discovered and we are mostly living longer. So even if this govt put in billions more, in 5 years time it would need more money. I don't know what the answer is, but something needs to change.

[Feilin]

We got 1 round in Northern Ireland. It failed. We went private to Origins next round. They identified and modified and we had a successful pregnancy. The first round was a standard treatment . The second round was more tailored due to the results of the first . I remember being so angry that other places in the uk had two and even three goes. We were lucky we had funds available.