IVF treatment being denied to couples in North Staffordshire
Ayshea Turner and Jason Watkins are striving to conceive
but cannot afford to pay for IVF themselves
CHILDLESS couples seeking fertility treatment in North
Staffordshire are being denied the chance to conceive – unless
they are prepared to fork out for IVF themselves.
North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust suspended funding for
in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in April last year and is one of
only three PCTs in the country not to provide fertility
treatment.
The trust, which delivers healthcare in Newcastle and the
Staffordshire Moorlands, said the decision was made due to
financial problems and putting treatment for conditions such as
cancer higher on the list of priorities.
But couples affected by the decision have called it an
"injustice" as people in neighbouring Stoke-on-Trent can have
one free treatment.
Ayshea Turner and Jason Watkins, pictured, are
striving to conceive while Alison and Paul Moore, left,
chose to fund IVF themselves after their request for help on
the NHS was turned down.
Former Stoke-on-Trent City Council worker Miss Turner cannot
conceive naturally as she suffers from endometriosis and
blocked fallopian tubes.
The 23-year-old of Mansfield Close, Clayton, said: "Jason
and I are desperate to have children.
"It is not fair that if I lived a few miles down the road, I
would have more of a chance of starting a family."
The Moores – who are expecting their first child in February
– paid £4,000 for private treatment at a clinic in
Nottingham.
Alison and Paul Moore chose to fund IVF personally
after their request for help was turned down
The couple have been given no medical reason for why they
are unable to conceive naturally, but the IVF treatment was
successful on its first attempt.
Mrs Moore, of Greenways, Bignall End, said: "We've had to
re-mortgage the house and get ourselves into quite a lot of
debt just because of where we live."
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
(NICE) recommends women aged between 23 and 39 receive three
free cycles of fertility treatment on the NHS.
Government guidance states PCTs should provide a minimum of
one free cycle, with a view to increasing this to three.
MP Paul Farrelly has launched a campaign to persuade the PCT
to change its policy after being approached by several
couples.
He said: "For many of them, the PCT's blanket refusal is a
heartbreaking setback to their hopes of starting a family."
A spokesman for North Staffordshire PCT said the health
authority was reviewing its funding policy for 2008/2009.
He added: "Now that the trust has returned to financial
health, we are considering which services should be prioritised
and fertility services are one that we are looking at."
23 Comments
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by jayburd2020
Sunday, May 27 2012, 12:03PM
“Good luck to this and all couples looking to start their IVF journey. Inherent to this process are inevitable up's and down's. Sometimes though the best medicine should include a little humor. In this spirit, here is a link to a YouTube humor video I created about my wife and my journey called "What I learned at the Fertility Clinic." Enjoy: http://tinyurl.com/3otkzy4”
by 7rinity
Wednesday, April 25 2012, 2:51AM
“I fully understand your issue with the postcode lottery, as I'm facing it myself in trying to get Staff's to fund post-adoption counselling.
Since they don't *have to*, they don't. Of course, they're one of the few places that doesn't. A mile down the road at me mom's, I could've (don't know if the numbers've changed since I looked a few years ago) got six sessions with someone who actually understood the trauma that is being adopted. But nope, thanks Staffordshire for abandoning the adoptees that you created.”
by debs04
Thursday, October 06 2011, 10:32PM
“Hello
I am doing some research. I am quite nervous about doing this and i do apologise for using this site.
I do not know how to begin. But I am looking for my family member of your name jason watkins
I am wandering if you are him as you look to be the age of him. This is a very long shot as i do not know if you will get to read this. And whether i would get a reply from you regarding my search for him( possibly you) Iam probrably raising my hopes.
I am DEBBIE and looking for my brother jason watkins
ThankyouMY EMAIL ADDRESS debs04@live.co.uk”
by AS, Stoke-on-Trent
Saturday, September 06 2008, 8:03PM
“L.Jones. How heartless you are. Your taxes are constantly being used to pay for people to have children. The ones who cannot be bothered to work for a living and have one child after another which are all paid for by the government. The country is full of these people, yet you begrudge these loving couples the chance to have little help to have a child of their own which they will love dearly. People like you make me sick.”
by Jason Watkins, Clayton, Newcastle
Friday, September 05 2008, 5:37PM
“Thank you for all the comments on here. I appreciate everyone taking the time to post a comment. I didn't realise that there were a minority out there who didn't think the postcode lottey was a disgrace. My partner and I would like to express our thoughts to the couples in our situation. I just hope the North Staffs PCT realises that we have as much right as anyone else receiving treatment in other areas because after all this is the NATIONAL Health Service.”
by Ayshea Turner, Clayton, Newcastle
Friday, September 05 2008, 5:16PM
“Obviously people posting their comments on here have no compassion or care for people fighting the postcode lottery.If the NHS are there to save lives then why did Dorothy Griffiths fight for her right to receive Herceptin which has kept her alive. Why are there stories in the news on a daily basis about people fighting for drugs to prolong their lives or from going blind and there are people receiving treatment through the NHS for cosmetic purposes. The issue that the likes of Felicity, L Jones, Daniel Martin and Big Bill cannot see is that if a treatment is available in one area despite what it is, it should be available to all despite their postcode. Thats why its called the NATIONAL Health Service. If I don't have IVF I will need a hysterectomy so am I expected to pay for that privately as well. I just hope that the small minded people out there do not have to fight for treatment for themselves because of a postcode lottery.”
by joanne, newcastle.
Wednesday, September 03 2008, 10:22PM
“rog perhaps if you could spell it would help but your comments are a load of rubbish.dont judge others who are unfortunate to concieve ,we dont choose this ,it just happens and it is the most heartbreaking news .To bring a child into this world is a miracle,especially when it looks and has a personality like his/hers parents.yes there is more important issues like life saving illnesses and i back cancer all the way,it should be funded.we pay our taxes all our life,and for what.maybe if i was on the dole,or a illegal immigrant,or had 6 kids just to get a house and claim income,i would get funding for treatments needed.the law is stupid in the u.k.great news on the success stories,go girls show them all.drugs and alcohol is freedom of choice did we make you do this,no i dont think so.Its funny how you can get tummy tucks free on the n.h.s.and gastric bands fitted,i didnt think this was life saving.yes you can adopt but would you like to bring up a child that can physically and mentally abuse you from previous problems,its not that easy.we have not said anything about other illnesses,being funded and whats fare and not,just that we should be entitled to 1 free i.v.f.treatment,especially under 40 yrs.it makes me mad,when women have babies by accident or abortions,there is no need to do this,and they dont even want children men included.But the people that want it so much,cant have them.”
by joanne, newcastle
Wednesday, September 03 2008, 9:47PM
“i cant believe the comments from people.you pay tax and insurance all your life and you cant even get help when you are desperate.i dont think anyone can judge until you are in this situation its heartbreaking .especially when people have them by accident and dont want them.how cruel is this.im so pleased with the success stories.at the end of the day if its want you want it doesnt matter if it costs millions its so worth it to see the miracle at the end.oh and by the way drinking and drugs are taken by choice of the individual .not being able to concieve is not our choice it just works out like that sometimes.thanks very much p.c.t for supporting all i.v.f. in stoke on trent .one free treatment isnt asking for much.perhaps if we where on the dole it may be freeor we had 6 children just to get a house.the law does no justice to working class people.go girls keep success stories coming in.some people need to get a life helping people who want to take drugs ....you cant even compare this to an addiction its not the same...life or death is important like cancer should be funded and other illnesses thats why we expect it when we pay our taxes.”
by susan, kidsgrove
Wednesday, September 03 2008, 7:03PM
“It both saddens and appauls me having read some of the comments posted. I just wonder out of all the negative comments made, how many people can actually understand the anguish behind wanting children? whilst I agree that the NHS is there to save lives my unfertility was caused but getting MRSA following an operation, therefore it has a mechanical cause and not just mother nature being cruel. Having worked for the NHS for 14 years I am well aware of its role in society, but just feel that there could be some kind of compromise reached? As for adoption/fostering we were told that that wasn't an option. As for the comment about taxes being used for ppl to have children when they cant afford it - its the 5 grand required to start the process - not the cost of bringing up the child. I just wonder if the shoe was on the other foot would they feel the same way? I doubt it.......”
by Rog, Stoke on Trent
Tuesday, September 02 2008, 7:59AM
“The job of the NHS is to save life, to help the ill and the inferm. Not to help folks get pregnent. If the NHS in this area could afford to that tretment, all well and good, but it can not, thats a shame but a fact. On saying this I would rather my hard won tax money go to provide this kind of care then to help hard drinkers, silly smokers and dirty junkiey scumbags who can not kick there disgusting habbits.”