Nhs funding..grrrr!!!

[TeriMcG]

I want to appeal to all the ladies out there who have had trouble concieving and know how difficult it can be.

In my areas the NHS (Trafford) will not fund any treatment whatsoever for fertility, even though government guidelines state that every couple should be given at least 3 goes at IVF.

I think that this is a disgrace when there are lots of couples who would make wonderful parents are being denighed this right. There are people out there who have child after child with no thought to if they can look after them, they contribute nothing to society and have baby after baby to not have to get a job and live off the state, with no consideration as to whether they can afford to give these children a good life or bring them up properly!

I am not saying all people who are on benefits are like this, but there is a large majority in this society who have children as apposed to having jobs whilst WE the tax payer have to support them & when WE tax payers who have worked all our lives and paid into society cannot now get the funding when we need it, i dont believe it is fair.

I think we should all write to David Cameron and the Health Secretary to oppose our objections to this!


WHO IS WITH ME?????

 

[Feisty Fidget]

Teri I honest to God think that even if every single couple struggling with infertility wrote to David Cameron or signed a petition then it would still make no difference. NHS is in a shambles with the outlays for exceeding budgets, cutting fertility funding is an easy option for them as they will state it does not affect health but rather quality of life.

I don't agree with the stupid different rules for different areas but I don't think it will change. I live in an area covered by Bournemouth and Poole PCT and even though our NHS FS has said we need IVF our PCT are making me wait 4 years until I am 30. If we dare to go private and are unsuccessful we will no longer be eligible for our NHS rounds.

I am now left with the option of waiting it out and being an older Mum (something I never wanted to do) or getting into debt for a gamble that may not pay off.

to all of you lovelies suffering the IVF postcode lottery

 

[babypink2010]

No funding at all? I thought my area was bad with only 2 attempts? and 2 year wait?

I am up for sending a letter,,, I have so much anger for the nhs,,, all my ni i pay and the waiting list are a joke,,,

 

[Feisty Fidget]

Teri after you posted this I double checked the infertility UK website and apparently my area is supposed to be 23 not 30 A polite but blunt email has been fired off to my local PCT asking for clarification. I was also told that IUI is not offered within my PCT although Infertility UK disagrees

Have you checked on there? They have an interactive map which will give you all IVF / fertility funding details for your particular PCT

 

[TeriMcG]

I have written to my local mp who said it was being discussed wirh the local pct. He implied that i wasnt the only one complianing about this

My local pct wont even pay for investigations. I have had to pay privately for my own investigations. Which have already cost £1,000.

The area my mum lives in oldham pay for 3 treatments.

It probably wont do ne good but the more people who email & write. Maybe something cud b done.

 

[Feisty Fidget]

Teri if your Mum doesn't live too far away (or if you are willing to commute) you could put her down as an address and register with a GP practice near her and then start the whole FS referral thing again?

 

[TeriMcG]

This is an option I am thinking about, as she doesnt live too far away, but there are all kinds of implications in this. Ie: my partner would also have to move to this area and we own our own home, so would have to re-register to a new address, my mum would loose her single status re council tax.

I just dont think it is fair that I should have to do this, I should be able to get the funding through which ever NHS I am under, not dependent on which postcode I live in!!!

Thanks for the replies ladies, keeping pestering those MP's!!!!

 

[Sparkles237]

mines similar even though they investigate they will only offer 1 course of ivf, and have long waiting lists for everything yet if we dared go private will lose any nhs treatement

 

[Indiapops]

it is all postcode, here you get three goes,, although I will never get offered IVF, being in a same sex relationship means my area does not allow it,, not that this is why I would want it as I have a donor but unfortunatly I do have fertility issues so when the fertility specialist has finished with me, I will have the answers.. but if nothing else works there will be no way for me to do anything about it,,, but where my other half is from they do offer it.. its all a bit mad

sorry I am in a different situation but realised I started talking out loud to myself when I read this .. it made me that mad lol

 

[blueeyedgirl1]

My PCT only funds three sessions on IUI and one session of IVF or ICSI. Unfair.

 

[TeriMcG]

Ladies, I have been to my Dr this morning and my area are reviewing the situation & he thinks that altho they will not fund IVF or any other treatment like this they may part fund investigations.

I have booked in to have a hycosy in April - £380, it will cost, but if i want to go down the clomid route, i am recommended to have a monitored cycle which is £485 per cycle.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that they can at least part fund my tests and drugs!!!

In the meantime i have been looking on line and found that the infertility network has draft letters to send to your local PCT and the health secretary, so I will be firing a letter off to him today as well. This is the website.

https://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/FundingforFertility/?id=5216

Indiapops, seems unfair that you are discriminated against on both counts! I hope the laws will change for you soon!

As Dawn French put in on the One Show recently that "All couples should have 87 goes free of charge until they manage to conceive".

 

[Lawgirl]

I'm lucky that my PCT will fund three goes of IVF(no IUI), but unlucky because they won't fund anyone with a BMI of less than 19, when my BMI natuarally sits at 18-18.5. So it looks looks like I will have to fund myself, subject to the outcomes of my current application for funding.

Indapops - that is disgraceful. Are you appealing? I can't see how they can get away with such blatant discrimination. s149 of the Equality Act 2010 states that public authorities (which according to Sch 19 includes the NHS) are required to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a relevant protected characteristic. Sexual orientation is a protected characteristic that they must take account of. Perhaps you should try making noises about taking legal action.

 

[Indiapops]

To be honest... I hadn't thought much of it I assumed it was the case anywhere in the country until my partner asked about it there... if it was just the case that I couldn't be referred because of my relationship I don't think it would of upset me..but as I do have a donor, I wouldn't be asking for help if I was able to conceive... Just like any other couple in the same situation.
It was actually my GP who told me this but at the same time he refused to send me to the specialst to start with, saying they would send my information back and not treat me... This is not the case and I'm now under the fertility specialst so I think I will wait for my next appointment and go from there.
Thanks for your help x