NHS IVF Glasgow Royal Infirmary

[heatherandhares]

Hi
(Also posted on infertility forum, apologies if some people see this twice!)

Does anyone have experience of the NHS IVF service in Glasgow and specifically how long it took from their first consultation to start of treatment cycle?

We are on the waiting list for NHS funded IVF via NHSGGC Assisted Conception Service at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. We have had two semen analyses (one private, one NHS) and I have had an antral follicle count and AMH privately. We had a private consultation after these results (via GCRM) which diagnosed MFI and recommended ICSI.

We were referred in October and have a consultant appointment in April but are unsure whether we should just go for the self funded option instead, as I'm in my late thirties and concerned about success rates declining. Apparently there's a 3 month wait for start of cycles in the Glasgow Royal self funded service just now, so am a bit concerned it will be ages before we start if going via NHS route. Equally, as things are in train with NHS, would rather not pay thousands of pounds if don't have to!

When I rang the NHS waiting list coordinator and was given the April appointment, I asked about rough timescales for starting treatment, she said something about a six months target but it depends when the doctor decided when the clock had started - which was all a bit confusing.

Would be grateful if anyone has any recent experience of their timescales between referral - consultant appointment - starting treatment.

I have no insight into Glasgow or even very up to date knowledge. However, we were in Glasgow eight years ago and waiting times were quite long. We were asked whether we would be willing to drive to Edinburgh for treatment. We did that and got seen and started treatment relatively quickly. I don't know whether that would still be an option but maybe worth asking? Just be aware that it would mean many early morning trips on the M8....

Hi, I don't have any Glasgow specific advice either but I do know that things start to move much more quickly after a consultant appointment and once you are properly into the FC "system"
I completely appreciate how frustrating delays can see when struggling with infertility and that time is so triggering but I think it would be worth waiting until after the consultant appointment before making a decision on self funding. IVF provision is Scotland is really good - with three cycles offered in most cases. We are self funding as we are now dealing with secondary infertility - after also struggling to have our DD - and the costs are eye-watering. So far we've spent well over £10k and have had no success. As much as I agree entirely that we aren't entitled to help - it is still a lot of cash to have to come up with and it adds a level of pressure too.
How were your AMH levels and AFC count?

Thanks both, appreciated. AMH and AFC were both fine (maybe better than I was expecting for my age) but obviously they don't tell you anything about quality hence don't feel like they're that reassuring in terms of timescales - and even with my numbers, the info from GCRM suggested that success declined pretty quickly with time. Will see if I can find out more about likely NHS timescales before making a decision.