Have your say on IVF service proposals

Patients and the public are invited to share their views on NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group’s proposal to change the number of IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) Cycles available to patients. 

The consultation will run for six weeks from today (Friday) until Saturday, December 8, 2018.  

The consultation document produced by the CCG describes the reasons why it is considering changing its policy on commissioning IVF services.  

Oldham CCG is one of only three CCGs in the country that provides IVF fully in line with NICE guidelines, including offering up to three funded cycles. 

Oldham CCG would like to reduce the ‘postcode lottery’ experienced by many patients across Greater Manchester by bringing the service provision in line with many of the other Greater Manchester areas and protecting the resource from ‘health tourism’ which could lead to huge financial impacts on the service, making it unsustainable for all.  

Dr John Patterson, Chief Clinical Officer from NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “As a CCG we are responsible for making decisions on the funding and provision of health services for the population of Oldham.

"Across the economy we are facing financial challenges and, at the heart of our decision making, we must think like a patient, but act like a taxpayer.  

“Oldham has been out of step with 65% of CCG’s in the way we currently fund IVF services, and that puts pressure on our local provision.

"Through our equality impact assessments and our own experience as local GP’s, we recognise that in Oldham removing access to IVF services completely would put many people in a disadvantaged position, as such, the CCG’s preferred option would be to fund 1 cycle of IVF, but it’s important for us to also hear the views of our residents.” 

The Governing Body Board paper outlining the proposals for consideration can be found here. 

What is the definition of an IVF Cycle? 

One cycle of IVF comprises an episode of stimulation of ovarian function which hopefully results in one to several eggs being harvested.  

After eggs are harvested, the best ones are fertilised and the most viable embryo is then implanted in the womb.   Any other fertilised eggs that are viable are frozen.  

A cycle completes either with the birth of a baby or when all the viable embryos have been implanted, generally one at a time. 

How to be involved in this consultation  

After reading the consultation document, which includes information about the reasons why the CCG is considering changing its policy on commissioning IVF services, we are asking people to fill in a short survey to feed back their views and comments on the proposal. 

The options presented in the consultation document include: 

a) Continuing to offer up to three funded cycles of IVF b) Reducing provision to two funded cycles c) Reducing provision to one funded cycle and  d) Moving to providing zero funded cycles and therefore no longer funding IVF services.

The CCG’s preferred option is to reduce provision to one funded cycle. However, the consultation is designed to enable participants to put their views forward and no decision will be made until the consultation has been completed.  
The consultation period runs for eight weeks, starting today.    

During this time there will be a number of opportunities and different ways for people to take part in the consultation, which include:      

1. Completing the online survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/OldIVF18 ,  
 
2. Attending a drop in session to fill in a paper survey and discuss your views with the engagement team  
 
3. Emailing us your thoughts on the consultation, the following email address is advised: oldccg.hello@nhs.net

*Please note, the email address is only monitored during working hours 

4.  If you are a group that would prefer to receive a presentation on the consultation, contact us to arrange a visit with you

5. Alternatively, you can write to the CCG at: Oldham IVF Consultation, NHS Oldham CCG Engagement Team, NHS Oldham CCG, Ellen House, Waddington Street, Oldham, OL9 6EE 
 
What will happen after the consultation period? 
 
Feedback from the consultation period will help to inform the Governing Body to make a decision on the future provision of IVF in Oldham at its meeting on Thursday, January 17, 2019.

The Governing Body meets in public and will publish the outcome of the consultation on its website and through social media.

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