Talks begin on cutting NHS IVF funding in parts of Nottinghamshire

Health bosses are meeting the public today to discuss plans which could see NHS funding for IVF treatment scrapped in parts of Notts.

Members of NHS Mansfield and Ashfield and Newark and Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are consulting on the proposals before a final decision is made in January.

Several options being reviewed include changing the eligibility criteria for access to IVF treatment funded by the NHS, and withdrawing it altogether.

The CCGs currently fund one cycle of IVF per person in both areas, although people sometimes pay privately for additional cycles if required.

Funding of IVF in Newark and Sherwood and Mansfield and Ashfield currently costs around £300,000 per year.

It was announced in August that the NHS needs to cover a shortfall of around £20m in the area.

Chief officer for NHS Newark and Sherwood and Mansfield and Ashfield CCGs, Dr Amanda Sullivan said: “The local NHS has been very successful in treating more conditions and in helping people to live longer.

“Additional funding has been made available to the NHS, but new treatments, growing levels of long-term conditions and increasing expectations mean that CCGs now have to re-prioritise how precious NHS resources are deployed

Full story in Notts TV, 5 December 2016