§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he is taking to ensure equal access to services for infertility treatment across the country. [91005]
§ Mr. HuttonWe have pledged to tackle unacceptable levels of geographical variations in access to infertility treatment and have set in motion a programme of work to achieve that aim. A Departmental survey of current health authority infertility service provision is taking place at the moment to enable the cost implications of any policy changes to be estimated. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists aim to complete their third, and final, set of evidence based clinical guidelines on infertility this autumn and these will indicate the circumstances in which infertility treatment can be most clinically effective. We can then move towards fairer access to National Health Service infertility services where those most able to benefit from such treatment receive it.