Thank you to the constituents who have contacted me about the impact of coronavirus on fertility treatments. 

I know that this has been an incredibly challenging time for those seeking IVF treatment and I am acutely aware of the time-sensitive nature of IVF.

I understand that the pandemic has been distressing for those undergoing or seeking IVF treatment. I was therefore encouraged that fertility services were among the first to reopen on the 11th May. I was also pleased to see that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology authority (HFEA) extended the storage limit by two years so that those undergoing fertility treatment during the pandemic could have more time to continue treatment.

Along with Ministers, I am clear that Clinical Commissioning Groups should commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines which recommend three cycles of IVF. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has described the lack of equity as ‘absurd’ and has vowed to end postcode inequalities. Ministers have written to Clinical Commissioning Groups twice in the last eighteen months regarding these unfair variations.

The Secretary of State has said that all fertility patients should be dealt with fairly and not face any additional disadvantage as a result of services being stopped for six weeks. Nevertheless, fertility services remain the prerogative of Clinical Commissioning Groups and I trust that they will make the right decisions.