§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest advice his Department has issued to(a) purchasers and (b) providers of infertility treatment in the NHS: if he will place this information in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [2068]
§ Mr. HoramDecisions about provision, priority and resources for infertility services are made by individual health authorities, who are in the best position to determine priorities in the light of local needs and circumstances. The decisions must be made on the basis of sound evidence.
Advice is available to health authorities and clinicians in the following publications:
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.252WThe Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists "Infertility—Guidelines for Practice".Copies of these are available in the Library.
The RCOG is reviewing its 1992 guidance as part of a project sponsored by the Department of Health. The revised guidelines should be available to clinicians next year.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned in the last two years into the effectiveness of alternative infertility treatments. [2069]
§ Mr. HoramNone. Information on research commissioned by the Department of Health is contained in the "Centrally Commissioned Research Programme" and the "Centrally Commissioned Research Programme: Commissions in 1994–95", copies of which are available in the Library.