NHS chiefs accused of covering up clinic’s embryo destruction
HEALTH chiefs have been accused of a “cover up” at an NHS clinic that was shut down over the destruction of embryos.
Documents seen by The Telegraph show that Homerton Fertility Centre and the regulator were aware last June that embryos were not surviving its freezing processes - but the unit continued to operate.
Last Friday, the unit in east London was ordered to suspend its services on the orders of the regulator. Since then, it has received around 200 calls and emails from desperate patients, fearful that the embryos they have stored may not survive. Many will not know for years, with the clinic’s patients including those undergoing cancer treatment who may have lost their chance of having children.
The regulator intervened last week, after The Telegraph raised concerns from whistleblowers. But documents seen by this newspaper show that as far back as last June, health officials at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation trust had discussed problems with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), and ordered a draft media statement be drawn up in case of press coverage.
On Friday, after its fertility service was suspended, the trust said there had been three separate incidents which had “highlighted errors in a small number of freezing processes”.
In December, regulators were warned of a risk that 153 embryos, which have been frozen, may not survive its processes, with 45 patients affected. Whistleblowers fear that the true numbers involved may be much larger. So far, 20 cases are understood to have been identified in which embryos did not survive the process or were not retrievable.
Whistleblowers say many of the problems relate to “inverted straw freezing”, which meant that embryos were stored upside down in liquid nitrogen.
They say the botched technique meant that the embryos were exposed to the air more quickly on thawing, causing them to die.
Sarah Norcross, director of fertility charity the Progress Educational Trust (PET), said: “Patients affected by what has happened deserve a prompt explanation, from the clinic and/or the HFEA, of what exactly has gone wrong. The longer this takes, the greater the speculation and the greater the distress.
“In the meantime, patients affected should be offered the opportunity for fertility treatment elsewhere, at no added expense to them, as soon as possible so that their chances of having a family are not further reduced.”
A Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: “We have written to our fertility patients apologising for the errors and for the concern they may have caused even if their eggs, embryos or sperm are unaffected.
“Homerton fertility centre is currently carrying out a full investigation and we will continue to keep patients informed.”
An HFEA spokesman said: “The issues are complex and relate to three separate incidents over the course of a year.
“An incident investigation can take a number of months, as centres need to undertake analysis. Suspending a clinic licence is a rare and serious decision.”