An in vitro fertilization embryologist works on a petri dish at the Create Health fertility clinic in south London.
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New data released by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority shows that only 23% of IVF treatments in London are funded by the NHS.
This compares to 40% of treatments in the West Midlands that are NHS funded and 62% of treatments in Scotland; despite the fact London has a larger population than both of these.
The data notes that people’s access to NHS IVF treatments is based on a “post-code lottery.”
Graph showing the percentage of IVF treatments that are NHS funded by region Source: Human fertilisation and Embryology authority.
Funding has declined since 2017 in every region.
In 2019, 48% of IVF treatments were NHS funded, down from 58% two years earlier.
The only group of people who’ve seen little change in NHS funding opportunities are the over-40s, who already have low eligibility.
Why does funding vary by region?
Funding is set at a national level in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, in England, funding is decided by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) leading to strong variation in regional funding.
Many of these CCGs have reduced funding for fertility treatment and as a result, the share of IVF funded by the NHS has declined across London and other English regions.
How has IVF changed in recent years?
The data released shows some major changes since information was first recorded in 1991. These include:
An increase in donor sperm and eggs.
An increase in same-sex partners seeking treatments.
The proportion of IVF cycles undertaken by patients over 40 has more than doubled.
Frozen embryo transfers continue to increase year on year, increasing 86% from 2014-2019.
IVF birth rates were three times higher in 2019 than in 1991.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineOnly 23% of London IVF treatments are NHS funded, new data shows
Short HeadlineOnly 23% of London IVF treatments NHS funded, data shows
StandfirstThe capital receives the second smallest share of funding in the UK, after the East of England.
New data released by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority shows that only 23% of IVF treatments in London are funded by the NHS.
This compares to 40% of treatments in the West Midlands that are NHS funded and 62% of treatments in Scotland; despite the fact London has a larger population than both of these.
The data notes that people’s access to NHS IVF treatments is based on a “post-code lottery.”
Graph showing the percentage of IVF treatments that are NHS funded by region Source: Human fertilisation and Embryology authority.
Funding has declined since 2017 in every region.
In 2019, 48% of IVF treatments were NHS funded, down from 58% two years earlier.
The only group of people who’ve seen little change in NHS funding opportunities are the over-40s, who already have low eligibility.
Why does funding vary by region?
Funding is set at a national level in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, in England, funding is decided by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) leading to strong variation in regional funding.
Many of these CCGs have reduced funding for fertility treatment and as a result, the share of IVF funded by the NHS has declined across London and other English regions.
How has IVF changed in recent years?
The data released shows some major changes since information was first recorded in 1991. These include:
An increase in donor sperm and eggs.
An increase in same-sex partners seeking treatments.
The proportion of IVF cycles undertaken by patients over 40 has more than doubled.
Frozen embryo transfers continue to increase year on year, increasing 86% from 2014-2019.
IVF birth rates were three times higher in 2019 than in 1991.
