HC Deb 16 May 1995 vol 260 cc164-5W
27. Mr. Barron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what services are provided under the NHS for the treatment of infertility; and if she will make a statement. [22877]

Mr. Sackville

Information on the services available under the national health service for the treatment of infertility is contained 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. A copy is available in the Library.

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.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice New River health authority has sought from her Department in respect of the most efficacious provision of infertility treatment and diagnosis; [23807]

(2) what contracts her Department has had with New River health authority in respect of infertility treatment and investigation in the United Kingdom. [23808]

Mr. Sackville

The provision of infertility diagnosis and treatment locally is a matter for New River health authority. Guidance on infertility services has been issued by the Department and as far as I am aware New River health authority has not sought any additional advice from the Department. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. David Kleeman, chairman of the authority, for details of local arrangements for fertility services.

Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what comparative studies her Department has conducted of one type of infertility treatment against another in the United Kingdom; [23806]

(2) what comparative studies of one infertility treatment against another in the United Kingdom have been assessed by her Department. [23805]

Mr. Sackville

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Mr. Couchman) on 18 April,Official Report, column 114.