§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy in respect of the recognition by the World Health Organisation of the condition that requires in-vitro fertilisation and/or gamete intra-fallopian transfer as an illness; and what guidance he has issued to health authorities. [33665]
§ Mr. BowisIt is a matter for clinical judgment what treatment is appropriate for individual patients.
§ Mr. HicksTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice health authorities located in the South-West and Wessex regional health authority area have sought from his Department about the most efficacious provision of infertility treatment and diagnosis in the last two years; and if he will make a statement; [34214]
918W(2) what contacts his Department has had with those district health authorities located in the South-West and Wessex regional health authority area about infertility treatment and investigation in the United Kingdom in the last two years; and if he will make a statement; [34264]
(3) if he will list exceptions to his policy that NHS treatments should be provided in the most cost-effective manner with specific reference to infertility treatment; and if he will make a statement. [34256]
§ Mr. BowisAdvice on the provision of infertility treatment is available to all health authorities and clinicians in
The Effective Health Care Bulletin on "The Management of Subfertility" (August 1992), published for the NHS management executive by a consortium of Leeds and York universities and the research unit of the Royal College of Physicians.The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has also published advice in "Infertility—Guidelines for Practice", RCOG Press 1992. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.
Health authorities in the South-West and Wessex RHA have not sought any particular advice from, nor been in contact with, the Department about infertility services over the last two years. Local health authorities are responsible for the provision of local health services, including the provision of infertility services. Decisions about the resources to be made available for these services must be left to individual health authorities as they are in the best position to determine priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances.
§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) men and (b) women, have suffered from infertility problems for the last 10 years, by region. [34632]