IVF screening hit by pandemic

The number of Scottish women receiving screenings for IVF treatment has plummeted this year as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Only seven patients were referred for a screening appointment to assess their suitability for IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) treatment by the NHS in Scotland between April and June this year.

This compares with 290 at the same time last year and 276 in the three months running up to lockdown.

The figures have been revealed in a new report from Public Health Scotland.

They also show a rise in the percentage of women waiting more than 274 days for the tests.

The national target is for 90 per cent of eligible patients to be screened at an IVF centre within 365 days of the receipt of a referral from a consultant.

NHS Scotland halted elective and non-urgent services in March in order to devote resources to an expected surge in patients suffering from the coronavirus.

As a result, IVF treatment was paused across Scotland, with all existing treatment completed by 15 April 2020.

This has had a major impact on the number of women receiving referrals and any resulting treatment.

From January to March this year, 276 referrals were received by IVF centres – down 22 per cent from 354 in the same quarter in 2019.

Just 105 referrals were received in the three months up to the end of June this year, most of which came in June itself.

This shows a drop of 64 per cent from 288 referrals in the same period last year.

A total of 396 eligible patients were screened in the first quarter of this year, all within 365 days. This compares to 366 in the same quarter in 2019.

At 30 June 2020, 817 patients were waiting to be screened, up from 620 at the same time in 2019