Health officials will be asked to approve IVF cuts

Rochdale health officials will be asked to approve drastic cut-backs to fertility services next week – despite strong public opposition to the move.

Integrated Commissioning Board members will vote on a recommendation to reduce the number of IVF cycles available to childless individuals and couples from three to one.

However, those with existing medical conditions could still have their cases considered through an ‘individual funding request’, due to concerns they could be unfairly disadvantaged.

It comes after a six-week public consultation into proposals to scale back IVF treatment in wider efforts to plug an estimated £12m black hole in the borough’s health and social care budget.

The Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has found ways to save £5m, but needs to find another £7m – most of which will be from negotiating with providers, improving efficiency and removing duplication.

Cutting free IVF rounds by two-thirds will result in savings of nearly £260,000 per year but 92% of those who responded to the consultation said they were opposed to the proposal.

Comments from respondents included ‘subfertility is not a lifestyle choice or self-inflicted and should be viewed as a medical condition’ , ‘three cycles provide a better chance of pregnancy than just one cycle’ and ‘given the relative deprivation of the borough of Rochdale many people would not be able to pay for fertility treatment if they could not access it through the NHS’.

Another added ‘the proposal is about cost cutting and has not been made for justifiable medical reasons’.

There was also opposition to the proposals on the grounds it is in breach of NICE guidelines, which recommend three cycles.

Health officials say that the move would also bring Rochdale in line with the majority of clinical commissioning groups in England.

Last week Oldham – the birthplace of IVF treatment – cut its free IVF treatment from three cycles to one.

And elsewhere across Greater Manchester, Bolton, Manchester, Bury and Trafford offer one cycle, while Stockport, Salford and Wigan offer two. Only Tameside and Glossop continue to offer three cycles.

Following Bury’s decision to reduce the number of free cycles available to one, campaign groups hit out, describing infertility as ‘a devastating disease which can cause depression, suicidal feelings, relationship breakdown and social isolation’.

Respondents to the consultation in Rochdale also questioned whether the potential impact on people’s mental health had been ‘properly considered’.

But the report from Adam Gowland, of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale CCG, says that a review of the evidence had found ‘that although it is clear that infertility causes stress – and individuals and couples awaiting or going through IVF treatment report elevated levels of depression and anxiety – there is no clear evidence of ill mental health or stress affecting IVF treatment outcomes’.

Setting out the reason for its recommendation, the report adds: “The CCG is satisfied that the decision to recommend a change in policy to one funded cycle is supported by evidence, as well as the need to respond to the significant financial pressure currently facing the NHS as a whole.”

The ICB – which includes both CCG and council officials – could still reject the recommendation or provide alternatives for consideration. If they choose to sign it off, the new measures would come in with immediate effect.

However, this would not affect any patients who have already been referred to an IVF service – including those on waiting lists –  or those receiving any kind of  IVF treatments, including tests for subfertility.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter