DECOMMISSIONING OF IN VITRO FERTILISATION SERVICES IN ENGLAND

That this House recognises the strain that infertility can have on couples' mental health and relationships; notes that more than eight in 10 clinical commissioning groups in England do not comply with the national NICE guidelines on IVF treatment and the subsequent effects that poor treatment provision has on patients; acknowledges the consistent approach taken by all the Welsh and Scottish health boards when commissioning IVF treatment; further notes that three clinical commissioning groups in England have decommissioned their assisted conception services in the last year as a cost saving measure; expresses concern that a further eight are currently considering decommissioning their assisted conception services entirely and a further 18 are currently considering reducing provision as a cost saving measure; and therefore calls on the Government to stop clinical commissioning groups from cutting their assisted conception services and encourages them to comply with the NICE guidelines.