§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to ensure that all purchasing health authorities contract with providers for a comprehensive infertility investigation and treatment service.
§ Mr. RichardsThe NHS in Wales provides a wide range of services for the investigation and treatment of infertility. Decisions about the level and type of service to provide must be left to individual health authorities to determine in the light of local needs and circumstances.
The Welsh Office has provided guidance on infertility in the protocol "Investment in Health Gain for Healthy Living" and drawn attention to the advice contained in "The Effective Health Care Bulletin on the Management of Subfertility" by York university and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists publication "Infertility—Guidelines for Practice".