PEOPLE battling to conceive could soon face an obstacle in their journey to parenthood after Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group proposed a reduction in the number of NHS-funded IVF rounds.

The changes would see the number of free IVF rounds cut from three to one.

Swindon CCG, who said their funds are being eaten into by expensive IVF treatments, claim the cuts are essential to balance funding “alongside many other cost pressures in the NHS.”

This could see many people’s path to becoming parents severely hampered as IVF boasts only a 30 per cent first time success rate in people under the age of 35.

Chief executive of the Infertility Network UK Susan Seenan slammed the proposal. She said:

“I think it is absolutely appalling and it shows what a postcode lottery the whole system is.”

“They are ignoring guidelines set out by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence which show that three IVF cycles are the optimum number.

“Three IVF cycles are the most cost-effective and optimum way for the NHS to provide IVF treatment.”

Susan said the news would have an untold emotional impact on people facing fertility struggles.

“I was speaking to a man who had found out days before that he and his wife would only have one IVF cycle instead of three.

“He said they became so emotionally and physically dependent on the outcome of that cycle that it made them anxious and the cycle failed.

“It is so sad because if he and his wife had lived down the road, they would have been entitled to the three cycles.”

Currently Swindon CCG will fund three cycles of IVF for women aged between 23 and 39 and men aged up to 55.

From April 2016 to end of December 2016 Swindon CCG funded IVF treatment for 87 women costing £282,331.

An average cycle of IVF can cost up for £5000 which additional costs such as embryo storage and genetic scans of eggs ramping up the price even further.

If the proposal is given the green light, Swindon CCG would join Wiltshire CCG who were criticised for their decision to cut NHS funded IVF treatments from three cycles to one last year.

Dr Peter Mack, clinical chair of Swindon CCG said:

“The CCG appreciates this is a difficult area to discuss.

The proposed change will put the CCG in alignment with our Sustainability and Transformation Plan footprint partners – especially Wiltshire CCG.

Dr Mack added: “In-vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a high-cost treatment and the CCG is required to ensure that we balance the funding for this treatment alongside many other cost pressures in our local NHS.

“It is important we understand the potential positive or negative impacts of the proposal from the perspective of our population, which is why we are keen to hear people’s views.”

The Bishop of Swindon Dr Lee Rayfield, who is a member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), said the news dealt a 'huge blow' to couples.

"Advances in assisted reproduction have given the gift of children to tens of thousands of couples and in offering 3 cycles of IVF, Swindon has been one of the best places for treatment in the country. The news that this is to be reduced to a single cycle will come as a huge blow to patients. It will also have a disproportionate impact, as poorer couples will not be in a position to afford the cost of private treatment.

"Everyone understands the funding pressures faced by the NHS and the need to cut costs but what has been announced today can have two positive effects. The first is that it has got us talking about infertility and its emotional cost. The second is to get us thinking more clearly about what funding the NHS truly needs."

To have your say on the proposal visit www.swindonccg.nhs.uk/ and fill out a survey.

The deadline for opinion on the new proposal is February 17 at 5pm.