MPs write to health chiefs demanding IVF services are reinstated in Peterborough and across region

The Peterborough Telegraph has highlighted the issue in recent months and has supported city campaigner Amber Izzo in her bid to get the CCG to reverse its decision to cut funding for IVF services.

Peterborough MP Paul Bristow has been an active supporter of the campaign and met Amber and other campaigners at a virtual meeting organised by the Peterborough Telegraph earlier this month.

Following that Mr Bristow has rallied support from fellow MPs across the region.

In a letter to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), MPs across Cambridgeshire have united to urge for funded IVF services to be reinstated in the area.

The cross party response, headed by Peterborough MP Paul Bristow, included: MP for North East Cambridgeshire, Rt Hon Steve Barclay, MP for South Cambridgeshire Anthony Browne, MP for South East Cambridgeshire Lucy Fraser QC, MP for North West Cambridgeshire Shailesh Vera, MP for Cambridge Daniel Zeichner and MP for Huntingdon Jonathan Djanogly.

The letter addressed to Jan Thomas, Accountable Officer, focused on the unanimous position held by the MPs to reinstate the services having seen constituents mentally, physically and financially affected by the decision.

The letter read: “As all seven MPs representing Cambridgeshire constituencies, we are writing to ask that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG reinstates IVF services. Currently, the CCG is one of only three in the country that fails to offer any fertility support on the NHS. Our constituents are being denied access to fertility services, which we believe to be an unacceptable situation.

“As you will be aware the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have issued guidelines on services, which state that women under the age of 40 who suffer from infertility should have access to three NHS cycles of fertility treatment. Last year, a Health Minister wrote to remind you that “CCGs have a statutory responsibility to commission healthcare services that meets the needs of their whole population, including fertility services.” Moreover, prior to your decision to end services in 2017, a consultation showed that 80% of respondents were opposed.

“Through our role as MP’s, we have all met loving couples who are desperate to become parents, yet have encountered fertility challenges and are being denied help from the CCG. Many couples have described the impact on their mental health and on their relationships. Most have attempted to purchase IVF services privately, amounting in some cases to many thousands of pounds and causing financial hardship. This is a real issue for our constituents and we feel compelled to act.

“We are not alone. A new campaign group called ‘Fight For IVF’ is campaigning for equal access to services across the country. Understandably, they want to begin in Cambridgeshire. The group already has a media presence and has begun a national petition. It will continue to campaign until services are reinstated.

“As your Members of Parliament, we hope you will respond to this letter by answering the following questions: Will you commit to reinstating NHS fertility services? Will you meet with Fight For IVF and other campaigners in Cambridgeshire? Will you write to us, detailing any assessment the CCG has undertaken on the impact of ceasing IVF services on mental health?

“Please give hope to the many couples in our country who need NHS support to become parents. We are keen to work with you and ensure they receive the best possible care.”

The letter comes as a result of a meeting organised by the Peterborough Telegraph with Paul Bristow, campaign group Fight For IVF and affected families earlier this month. Paul had pledged his support and called for other MPs to back the reinstatement.

IVF services were initially suspended in 2017, following a review in 2019 they were ‘suspended indefinitely’ to save money. The CCG has been previously quoted that this will continue until their deficit is eliminated and returns to a financial surplus.

Peterborough is only one of three CCGs across the country to offer zero cycles of NHS fully funded treatment. Neighbouring counties, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Northamptonshire all offer upwards of one cycle.

According to the CCG, an average cycle costs £5,000 per cycle per patient, though some Peterborough couples have faced private costs of over £12,000 per cycle.

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