Anyone else waiting on Homerton Fertility to open?

[NewnameNelly]

New referral to Homerton Hosp for fertility and the hospital is still not taking new patients, I've been told to call back in September. I am so exasperated, we've been waiting 6 months now. Is anyone in the same boat?

There are many options for resolving staffing issues and I'm sure they have people who can make these decisions. As patients it's not our role to find the solution but we don't have to suffer in silence either. Delays and lack of communication/honesty add an extra burden on our mental health. Not to mention that they could impact outcomes for many of us. Shouldn't the NHS decision makers be made aware of this?

Btw, may I ask, why you wouldn't choose create? I'm looking at back up options but I don't have much experience, so any information is welcome.

I definitively hear you and I agree that patient management is not the best at the Homerton. It shouldn't take so long to send an email and inform patients of the situation. Every month that you are due to start is mentally super stressful and then you need to deal with the delusion of it going ahead with the cycle too. Who can we complain with?

While I was waiting for my NHS cycle I had a go with create and my experience hasn't been great. I didn't have any mature eggs and they didn't seem to interested to understand why it happened or change the protocol to do something different for me. They also talked to me as if I had no hope to have a child in the future. It might be true but it's a horrible way to talk to a patient who is grieving. That's my experience but loads of women are successful with them.

Hi all,

Every time I read about someone else's struggles with the Homerton it makes me more and more frustrated. I'm so sorry that we are having to go through this.
I have written to PALs and my husband has spoken to the consultant at Homerton - as I've written about, it was of much help.
1 month ago I emailed my local CCG but haven't received a response. I have since emailed them again requesting for the contact details of the person who deals with Fertility, treatment and policies at the CCG.
I am looking to find more information to give us some clarity and allow us to forward plan. I am also looking to see if there are any other trusts that are contracted with my local CCG to provide NHS funding for fertility treatment.
I would suggest you all do the same, because you may find that your local CCG has a contract with different trusts to provide NHS funded fertility treatment.

I will keep you all updated if I get a reply!

My husband managed to speak to a Nurse at the Homerton and was simply told that we would be updated by post if the timing of our treatment changed and the phone out down, despite receiving an email to say that it would be delayed!
@Peap0d I am in Walthamstow and have been trying to find the contact details for North East CCG to no avail, I'm sure it's buried in a dark corner of their website. Can I ask where you found the contact details for your CCG?

@Francesmalin, I feel for you so much as I do with everyone on this thread. Can I ask when your first appt was with homerton and what month you were told you would start treatment ? My husband and I are coming up to waiting for 10 months and now told of this further delay....
@KLS2222 can I ask when your husband spoke to the nurses...? Thank you xx

@KLS2222

My husband managed to speak to a Nurse at the Homerton and was simply told that we would be updated by post if the timing of our treatment changed and the phone out down, despite receiving an email to say that it would be delayed! *@Peap0d* I am in Walthamstow and have been trying to find the contact details for North East CCG to no avail, I'm sure it's buried in a dark corner of their website. Can I ask where you found the contact details for your CCG?

Hi, I found the email on their website I had a quick google and NEL CCG contact details aren't as easy to find but try this contact form - northeastlondonccg.nhs.uk/contact-us/ There's also this telephone number : 0300 013 6225 There MUST be alternative services that can be offered to us.

@Caro84x I think it was Friday my husband called and spoke to one of the nurses.
@Peap0d thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it. Will contact them today

Thank you ladies. If anyone is able to afford argc clinic a family member had a really positive experience there but the price tag is huge hence why its out the question for us.

@caro84x i had my first appointment in May last year and I was told I was going to start with my Feb period. I called the clinic when I got my period 10 days ago but I haven't heard back from the nurses.

I only know that my treatment has been postponed because the nurse called my boyfriend back and said that we won't do anything for at least 6 months. Although I am almost 37 I I have unexplained infertility so not on the top list.

@Francesmalin thanks for the update. For me I am on exact same time line as you, I am 37 and have premature infertility caused by chemotherapy for cancer treatment I had when I was in my early twenties but likewise still waiting and got that email last week saying our treatment was postponed. Xx

Update for you all - I got an email from my CCG and have been advised that funding is only through Homerton trust and nowhere else. I asked for details to talk to people about issues with their service and was just sent a generic complaints email address which is just tiresome.
I have since just gone ahead and booked into for initial appointment at a private clinic ABC IVF (affordability reasons) and I'm looking forward to getting some stability, control and care back in my life in terms of the fertility aide of things !

@Peap0d I got a similar email today from my doctors surgery- "Waltham Forest CCG Fertility is contracted with Homerton Hospital only. Which is disappointing.
I also received another email from the Homerton to say the timeline in terms of delays is 6-9 months.
I have already done one cycle at the Lister so will be doing another one with them at some point this year!

[quote KLS2222]@Peap0d I got a similar email today from my doctors surgery- "Waltham Forest CCG Fertility is contracted with Homerton Hospital only. Which is disappointing.
I also received another email from the Homerton to say the timeline in terms of delays is 6-9 months.
I have already done one cycle at the Lister so will be doing another one with them at some point this year! [/quote]
I don't think it's fair to provide funding to a trust that isn't able to provide an adequate service.
Is your Lister cycle private?

@Peap0d yes I totally agree. Such a shame we seem to be stuck with the Homerton. Yes it was a private cycle with the Lister, which was unsuccessful but quality of care was excellent, no complaints. We did seriously consider Create but last minute changed our plans after reading further about mild IVF in the NICE guidelines and some peer reviewed medical journals. So much to consider when making these decisions, feels like so much is at stake!

I haven't received any email from the homerton nor a letter. I am pretty sure I won't start this month so I wonder when they will be in touch! 😂

[quote KLS2222]@Peap0d yes I totally agree. Such a shame we seem to be stuck with the Homerton. Yes it was a private cycle with the Lister, which was unsuccessful but quality of care was excellent, no complaints. We did seriously consider Create but last minute changed our plans after reading further about mild IVF in the NICE guidelines and some peer reviewed medical journals. So much to consider when making these decisions, feels like so much is at stake![/quote]
Sorry I thought I had responded to your message. I was going to have mild IVF with Homerton anyway, so ABC suits me and my pocket 🥺 , I like that the price is just fixed all included and I don't have to worry about paying this bill and that bill.
Because you've had a cycle privately , are Homerton still allowing you to be seen by them for NHS funded cycle? I thought you couldn't if you have gone privately?

@Francesmalin the email I had today from the Homerton also said "We are in the process of reallocating new slots and other ways to manage the patients who are due to come through. We are updating our website and letters are being posted out." So hopefully you will hear from them soon.
Covid delays I can mostly understand, but poor communication around such an emotive subject I can't. It's inexcusable.
My experience at my consultation at the Homerton was appalling. So sadly they are just living up to my expectations of them.

@Francesmalin

I haven't received any email from the homerton nor a letter. I am pretty sure I won't start this month so I wonder when they will be in touch! 😂

I wouldn't hold my breath! If they don't call you back within 2 weeks of you calling with the 1st day of your period keep calling them because they aren't very good at keeping the communication

@Peap0d yes ABC is certainly very keenly priced. I had all my tests done at Create and found them to be very professional, I'm sure you will be in a safe pair of hands! In my borough I'm eligible for 3 full NHS funded cycles. Any privately funded cycle is taken away from the 3. So as it stands I've have one privately funded cycle so am eligible for 2 NHS funded. If that makes sense?!

[quote KLS2222]@Peap0d yes ABC is certainly very keenly priced. I had all my tests done at Create and found them to be very professional, I'm sure you will be in a safe pair of hands! In my borough I'm eligible for 3 full NHS funded cycles. Any privately funded cycle is taken away from the 3. So as it stands I've have one privately funded cycle so am eligible for 2 NHS funded. If that makes sense?![/quote]
Understood! I don't think my borough is currently as generous. Ah nevermind. I just have all my fingers and toes crossed for my care with ABC and wish you all the best of luck as well.

I emailed Homerton yesterday about current wait times since I’m already waiting 4 months for my first appointment after referral. I asked for an honest estimate of when we’d be likely to start our first cycle on the nhs.
I got a response today which was a pleasant surprise. They said the earliest we’d be able to start given the current staff shortages and pandemic catch up would be August 2023!
I’m so glad I contacted them and got such a swift response. Now we can make an informed decision about going private.

Lol 1.5 years wait! Unbelievable!!!

I gave them a ring earlier but haven't herd back just yet. Did you email the nurses or another email address? When I email them they never answer!!!

@Peap0d the funding depends from your CCG. I am with Haringey and i can have 2 private IVF cycles. Mine were failed cycle so they don't count towards my allocation

I used the fertility unit email from the top of my appointment letter. The administration manager responded.

@Francesmalin I'm so sorry to hear that, 1.5 years is outrageous. All the waiting around doesn't do much for the mental health. I emailed: [email protected]

It’s incredibly frustrating but I’m glad I know now. We were going to at least wait until our appointment at the end of May but now we know for sure we’ll be going private and can start whenever we’re ready. Doctors keep saying “the good thing is you’re young” like I’ve got all the time in the world but I’m 34 this month which in terms of fertility doesn’t feel “young” especially because we’d like to have more than one child. There’s so much out of our control with this whole process but at least we can choose when we start.

The email I used was [email protected]