IVF cutbacks will stop free treatment for some couples in Essex

From today couples in Mid Essex will have amongst the worst access to fertility treatment in the whole country.

Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group has voted at Braintree Town Hall to stop offering IVF treatment on the NHS.

Patients who can prove their circumstances are exceptional, such as those undergoing cancer treatment that will make them infertile, may be able to access IVF, but this will be decided on a case by case basis.

The decision directly contravenes National Guidelines which says all women under 40 should have access to 3 rounds of IVF on the NHS.

Mid Essex CCG say they had no choice because they are poorly funded by central government and have a huge deficit.

The CCG add that around 80 - 100 couples access IVF in Mid Essex each year, whereas they have to provide for the needs of 380 thousand people.

Our reporter Elodie Harper spoke to Dr Donald McGeachy, the Medical Director of MId Essex CCG about the change of policy.