§ 24. Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure equality of access to IVF treatment. [77722]
§ Ms JowellWe have pledged to tackle unacceptable levels of geographical variations in access to in-vitro fertilisation treatment and have set in motion a programme of work to achieve that aim. A Department of Health survey of current health authority infertility service provision will take place shortly 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.