Should I change GP before my Infertility Referral?

[Acorn1234]

Hello,

I'm 37, TTC for around 11 months now. Investigations for me and my partner have found nothing obvious (some fibroids, but nothing that should prevent pregnancy). I'm about to be referred to the Infertility clinic, but I have an annoying ICB funding dilemma.

I read that it's not about where you live, but where your GP is based as to what funding you're entitled to for infertility treatments.

I'm currently signed up to GP at Hand - the NHS online doctor. The ICB for the online GP is North West London which only offers "1 (non-full) cycle of IVF for age up to 40", whereas if I moved GP to my local area the ICB IVF funding would be "3 full cycles for age up to 40; 1 full cycle for age 40-42".

When I talked to the doctor she didn't know what the funding would be at all, or what the GP ICB was. She did say I could request to be referred to a hospital close to me.

Does that mean I could access the local ICB funding without changing GPs? Or would the funding still have to adhere to the NW London ICB policy? Should I change GPs now before requesting a referral?

If be grateful to hear if anyone else has any info on this please as I've no idea what to do but

Thanks!

Hi there, I went to King's and they applied the SE London policy and not the SW London policy of where we live. This is particularly key as my AMH was below the threshold for the SW policy to get an NHS round. We were given funding and had a baby on our NHS round!
Good luck :)

@Acorn1234 I think you may as well change now if your local area is definitely more generous for your circumstances.

I would absolutely change - it can only get better, What's the worst that could happen? And the chance to get 3 rounds over 1 is worth it in my opinion.

Yeah I would def change. I mean none of it’s fair, but it feels even more unfair that you’d be restricted just cause GPathand is based in London.

Funnily enough, I had my investigations done with gp at hand (I think they’re great, so efficient). Then we moved to Scotland and had to register with my local gp. I was v annoyed at the time as it meant delays when we were already quite far down the path. I hadn’t realised I would get more rounds up here. The doctor was a bit snidy with me and seemed to be implying I’d changed docs for the purposes of more rounds. I was like—what? We’ve bought a house and live here (she then implied I’d bought a house solely to be treated in Scotland until I explained all my family live in the same town.) She also suggested I adopt instead. Insert expletive here.

you’ll miss gp at hand but it’s well worth it.