When can investigations resume? (Scotland.)

[theotherfossilsister]

Just that really, I know it's a difficult time for so many people, but clinics shuttered just as DP finally agreed to get his semen analyisis done. My progesterone was normal, and I have regular periods, so I don't think Clomid would be an option for us. We've been trying for a year and a half, and I am 35 on Saturday.

If we do get a referral, and need IVF, how long will that take? So many questions?

Thanks

Just saw on Edinburgh fertility clinic Facebook page:

On Monday 11th May, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) published the application document required for fertility centres to complete to enable them to reopen. We are currently progressing our application and liaising with NHS Lothian management teams as well as the Scottish Government to ensure we can resume services as soon as and as safely as possible. Once we submit our application, the HFEA aims to complete their approval process within 5 working days. Once we are granted approval to reopen, we will resume services using the safest approach and will be introducing parts of the service in phases using caefully planned prioritisation.

Once again, we thank you for your patience during this difficult time and ask that you avoid phoning us for more information as we still have a limited number of staff who are carrying out work in preparation of reopening. Any updates will be on this webpage and our Facebook page. We will contact patients referred before the "treatment pause" to advise of their new treatment month or next appointment.

Hope you don't mind me joining in here just keeping an eye out for some Scottish ones.
Noticed there wasn't any on the list yet so also thought there must be something the Scottish Government are doing that's holding things back.

I have a video appointment with my clinic on Monday so will ask them then if there isn't any on the list by that point

I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up

That's exactly how I feel @lillibeth86 - I just want to see a sign of any Scottish clinic opening... their absence is making me suspicious 🤨 I've noticed that the majority of English ones that have approval already are private clinics, so I would have at least have thought GCRM would be on there by now - they've been sat around losing money by being closed, so I can't believe they didn't have their paperwork in as soon as the clock stuck midnight on the 11th! 🤔

Thanks for that update @BeHereNowx32 ❤️ I've been so busy hitting 'refresh' on the HFEA website that I didn't think to check the clinic website today 🤦‍♀️ So...They've not even submitted their application yet?! 🤯 That makes me even more suspicious 🤨 When I spoke to our doc (followed by the clinic counsellor) about 3 weeks ago they both said, separately, that they were working flat out to have the service re-implementation plan ready to rock as soon as they were told they could apply. They said not that many staff had been redeployed to other areas, so they had time to dedicate to it... surely this has got to be to do with getting the go ahead from the Scottish government? If so, they really need to be clear and transparent about it (and I feel a small pro-IVF clinic demonstration coming on outside of Nicola's Edinburgh residence! 📢😂).

@willithappen that sounds really positive that you've got a consultation next week! 😃 Any update on what's happening at your clinic would be very welcome.x

Afternoon lovely ladies! I hope you are all ok and coping with ...the WAIT!!! I have been trying to focus on my diet and health to distract me as I have ate so much during lock down. My bootcamp are doing online Zooms they are so good!!

Anyway, I know it says on HEFA page that they are aiming to get the applications processed within 5 days. Annoying the Edinburgh one are still processing their application and not submitted it!!! Least I know not to check HEFA for a good few days!

Lets hope some of the other Scottish clinics open up ASAP for the rest of you xxx

@BambiOnIce80
the way our clinic worded it on Monday makes me believe that they actually did put an application in that day so I was expecting their name up on that list by now.
Same as you, it makes me suspicious and I'm starting to believe the go ahead was not meant for Scotland but the rest of the UK

No, we need to think positively. I'd have expected Gcrm up too before the NHS clinics but actually thinking about it I think perhaps they won't have full time anaesthetists, and perhaps they book in slots once/twice however many times a week, so perhaps that is something to consider? Am I clutching at straws? think only 1 of the gcrm parent company's clinics are the approved list as if yet.

@RonRon1 I'm inspired by your bootcamp I'm overweight and trying to really focus on diet just now, so that's something at least. Just had amazon delivery of lots of supplements from it starts with the egg too as at least in my head I feel I'm doing something.

And the clinic is open!
Fingers crossed that all of the other Scottish ones get the go ahead as well today!

This forum got me thinking about whether Scotland is different and I came across this article. Perhaps we will have to wait a bit longer than the rest of the U.K? Just seems weird that even the private hospitals aren’t on the list

www.heraldscotland.com/news/18430873.coronavirus-scotland-ivf-treatment-restart-as-quickly-possible/

Great news @lillibeth86 hopefully the NHS ones aren’t far behind GCRM

@lillibeth86 amazing news 😀 I hope they get things moving quickly for u!

@LouScot it’s really good it’s called Alan Grant Stay at home plan and all u need is zoom. He does 3 30 minute classes a day for all levels. I panicked as when I called the hospital she said if my BMI is too high I will have to wait until it’s within their limits. I don’t actually know why my BMI is bit can’t hurt :)

Let’s hope the other Scottish clinics follow suit so we can get on with our lives 😍

Let’s hope the other Scottish clinics follow suit so we can get on with our lives 😍

I keep my fingers crossed that things move as quick as possible for all of us!

That's great news @lillibeth86! Have they called you? I still can't see any Scottish clinics on the list (although it's entirely possible after hours of pressing refresh that the list is all merging into one! 🥴).

That's an interesting article, thank you @Scotgirl. I'm slightly alarmed by:

She asked for a plan on reopening Scottish IVF clinics, saying sites in other parts of the UK could apply to open from Monday.

The First Minister replied: "This is currently being looked at and we hope to give clarity around it very soon."

Hmmm... does this mean our suspicions are correct and the NHS clinics haven't been allowed to submit their applications yet? 🤨

@Bambionice80 I got an message through the patient portal they use stating that they got the HFEA confirmation and I got asked about my last period and stuff to plan ahead.

Seems the HFEA list is not quite up to date because my clinic is not on there but has announced everywhere they got granted permission to reopen.

fingers crossed for everyone the day is not over yet!

Thanks @lillibeth86, so at least we know Scottish ones are allowed to open. Very much hope NHS ones are back too very soon.
@RonRon1 I'll have a look! My BMI is high, I don't qualify for NHS treatment (single, 41) but I'm definitely over the 30 limit. I know it'll be better to get it down as safely as possible, but won't get it down anytime soon. When I'd made initial enquiries with Gcrm they'd said they could treat me but obviously success would be higher if I was lighter. But I eat when I'm low which is shit.

Fingers crossed for everyone

Just checked and the Herald article hasn't been updated since 6th May, so don't think it's too much to worry about..

Hfea list isn't up to date as I've checked again and Gcrm still not on it, but looked on their own website and as @lillibeth86 says it clearly says they've received their permission to reopen. They've also got a useful bit about plans for duration of a patient develops coronavirus (if prior to egg collection it'd be stopped but if afterwards they'd do a freeze all) and you'd wait until you'd recovered.

Hopefully everyone hears good news soon, it's the not having a plan in place that gets to me x

Oooh, that's fantastic that they contacted you directly before the HFEA has even updated the list @lillibeth86! 🤩 I love a proactive organisation! 😁 When does it look like you'll be having your cycle?x

@bambionice80 I'm ovulating today (oh sweet irony), so fingers crossed I can start with my next cycle at the end of the month.

The HFEA website is still not updated 🤷‍♀️

Hey guys, has anyone recognised ANY clinic that has opened as being an NHS one? I am getting worries that it's only private ones applying to reopen just now :(

@LouScot lets go for drinks somewhere central when allowed, maybe somewhere with a beer garden even.

Just catching up with the thread as it's really grown this past week.

I will keep you updated after my video appointment on Monday that I have.
I'm with Aberdeen and they do self funding and NHS and I'm an NHS patient.
My appointment is just to go on the waiting list and go over all of that, so I can't be of help as to how soon they'll start things up again but I will let you know anything I hear

@RonRon1 and @LouScot - I might join you in loosing weight. Was weighed at rheumatology yesterday and have put on a stone since lockdown started, placing me firmly in the overweight category. (When we started ttc 18 months ago I was actually a really healthy weight. I think this ttc malarkey has really buggered things up.

All the waiting must be hell. I'm almost glad I'm not on a waiting list already and still focusing on the monthly ttc (even though it has been 18 mths now, so I'm getting used to 'of course it won't happen' it still hurts when it doesn't, every time.) On cycle day seven now, so going to try for the next week/ten days but often have 'what's the point' sort of moments, know DP feels similarly. I think we're going to call the GP back tomorrow and see if we can get the sperm analysis booked.

Rheumatology was actually really good, and they did say the RA could have something to do with our difficulties, especially if the SA were to come back normal. They spoke about changing me to a biologic medication or a different DMARD, and have run some bloods to see if that would be appropriate right now. (I am losing movement completely in my left wrist and ttc means no mtx.) Wouldn't it be amazing though, if it was the RA that was stopping us, and a new drug combination could make it happen?

It does seem weird that the Scottish clinics aren't opening (although great that one has.) I wonder if there is some policy which they are still figuring out how to announce into the public domain. DP just came through and said write to local MP (Deirdre Brock, Joanne Cherry or Tommy Shepherd if in Edinburgh? asking them to ask health secretary.)

@RonRon1, yep, there are NHS clinics in there - just not Scottish ones 😕 Leeds fertility is definitely part of the NHS down there (I used to live in Yorkshire and that was one of the options when I was TTC with XH). Pretty sure Gateshead and Hull will be NHS too.

It'd still be really helpful to hear what your clinic are saying @willithappen, so thanks very much ❤️ They might give you an idea about time scales/if the government have allowed them to submit their application, which we're all dying to know!x

Have found Deirdre Brock's email now, but very unsure how to phrase something like this. Do you know?