Consultation over plans to cut town’s fertility services
HEALTH chiefs in Rochdale want residents’ opinions on controversial proposals to cut free fertility treatment from three cycles to one.
Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG) has launched a public consultation on plans to reduce the number of fully-funded IVF cycles available to those struggling to conceive.
Bosses are particularly keen to hear from people registered with GPs in the borough who would be affected by the proposed changes.
If approved Rochdale would become the latest Greater Manchester borough - including Oldham, home of the first test-tube baby - to make cuts to its fertility services.
It comes as bosses desperately search for ways to fill an estimated £12m black hole in the borough’s health and budget.
Nothing can be signed off, however, until the public has been consulted over the proposals.
Borough GP and CCG chair Dr Chris Duffy said health chiefs had to ensure they were getting the best results for the money being ploughed into the system.
He said: “Over the past social care two years, HMR CCG has spent an average of £423,000 per year on IVF treatment.
“As an Integrated Commissioning Board we have a duty to secure the best possible investment for our funds and we have considered a number of different options regarding the future of funded IVF cycles. “
He added that offering one free cycle of IVF was the preferred option for HMR CCG.
“This would bring our local IVF policy in line with the majority of other CCGs in England and also takes into account the evidence regarding the reduced likelihood of successful live births with each unsuccessful IVF cycle,” he said.
HMR CCG bosses have already found ways to save £5m, through streamlining services, but still need to find another £7m.
And they say that only cutting some services altogether - or ‘significantly changing’ them - will be enough to plug the gap.
The plans are almost certain to provoke a backlash.
Campaigners hit out at Bury Council in October, it took the decision to cut free IVF cycles from three down to one in October.
Opponents described infertility as ‘a devastating disease which can lead to depression, suicidal feelings and the breakdown of relationships.’
Elsewhere in Greater Manchester Tameside and Glossop CCG currently offers three free cycles; Salford, Stockport and Wigan CCGs two; and Bolton and Manchester CCGs one.
Trafford CCG scrapped plans to axe its one cycle of IVF following accusations the move could have had a devastating impact.
Rochdale’s six-week ‘engagement period’ will run until Wednesday, January 16 2019.
Responses to an online survey will feed into the decision,expected to be made by the borough’s Integrated Commissioning Board in February
A consultation document and survey with more information is available at hmr.nhs.uk/index. php/getinvolved
Respondents can also email the CCG at hmrcommunications@nhs.net.