Blunder ruins frozen eggs of 136 women at NHS clinic

MORE than 130 women who had their eggs frozen at a ‘world-leading’ fertility clinic have been told they may no longer be viable because of a freezing blunder.

Cancer patients who have since undergone treatment that may have left them infertile are among the 136 patients affected at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.

The women were told over the past fortnight that eggs or embryos frozen at the clinic in September and October 2022 ‘may not survive the thaw process’.

The hospital blamed a manufacturing problem with bottles of the solution used to freeze them. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology

Authority (HFEA) said it was ‘aware of and investigating the incident’ at the assisted conception unit at Guy’s Hospital.

It believes the faulty product may have been distributed to other UK clinics but is not aware of any other patients being affected.

The hospital yesterday admitted there was almost a year-long delay between it finding out about the manufacturing error, on March 10 last year, and the patients being told at the beginning of this month. It said the ‘complex nature’ of the incident and uncertainty from the manufacturer about which batches were affected contributed to the hold-up.

The ‘horrifying’ delay means some of the women may no longer be fertile, and have missed the chance to have further egg freezing that would enable them to start a family.

Guy’s has apologised. Staff have offered the women counselling and have set up a dedicated phone line. A letter to patients said the unit had been ‘made aware of a manufacturing issue with some bottles of a solution that may have been used to freeze eggs and embryos in September and October 2022’.

It added: ‘ The manufacturer has advised that the issues may adversely impact the thawing process.

‘This means that there is a risk that eggs and embryos frozen in the affected solution may not survive the thaw process, and may not be able to be used in treatment.’

The unit, which describes itself as ‘world-leading’, offers treatment via the NHS and to private patients, charging £3,700 for one round of private egg freezing or £ 4,500 for embryo freezing.

It specialises in helping cancer patients preserve their fertility before undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy or a hysterectomy.

One patient, who had her eggs frozen in October 2022, told The Times: ‘The doctor informed me that the eggs I had frozen are unlikely to be viable, due to a faulty freezing process. It has been devastating.’

She added: ‘The thought they have been sitting on this information for nearly a year is horrifying... Had I been told about the issue straight away, I could have done another round of egg freezing then, and be in a much better position than now.’

The woman, who did not want to be identified, is calling for the hospital to quickly provide further fertility treatment to those affected, and cover the associated expenses.

A spokesman for Guy’s and St Thomas’ said: ‘We have contacted all of those affected and apologised for the delay in doing so and any distress this may have caused.’

Rachel Cutting, of the HFEA, said it would take further action if required after their investigation.

‘It has been devastating’