{"id":303836,"date":"2025-07-30T11:57:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T11:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/303836\/"},"modified":"2025-07-30T11:57:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T11:57:22","slug":"last-chance-to-have-your-say-on-nhs-postcode-lottery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/303836\/","title":{"rendered":"Last chance to have your say on NHS ‘postcode lottery’"},"content":{"rendered":"

For some, watching their chances of having a baby cut would be \u2018absolutely gutting\u2019 \u2013 but health bosses admit ‘funds are tight’, saying one chance is better than none at allHelena Vesty<\/strong><\/a> NHS, social care and patients reporter and Rhys Hanson<\/strong><\/p>\n

13:28, 29 Jul 2025<\/p>\n

\"PregnantThe number of IVF cycles available on the NHS in one part of Greater Manchester could drop from three to one(Image: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n

This is the final chance Greater Manchester residents will get to have their say on a major change to one NHS<\/a> \u2018postcode lottery\u2019 still in force in the region.<\/p>\n

Today (July 29) is the final day of a public consultation into IVF treatment.<\/p>\n

The number of NHS-funded IVF cycles in one borough of Greater Manchester could drop from three cycles to one. In three other areas, the number of cycles could be reduced from two to one.<\/p>\n

For some, watching their chances of having a baby be slashed by two thirds or by half would be \u2018absolutely gutting\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Greater Manchester health bosses say they are trying to end the postcode lottery and end inequalities.<\/p>\n

But they also added \u2018funds are tight\u2019, and they \u2018have to be as sensible as we can with the taxpayer\u2019s money\u2019 to prevent IVF being stopped on the NHS in Greater Manchester completely.<\/p>\n

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Three cycles of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) are currently on offer for those who live in Tameside<\/a>, while two cycles are available in Salford<\/a>, Wigan<\/a>, and Stockport<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Much of the rest of the country, including the other six boroughs of Greater Manchester \u2013 as well as Oldham<\/a>, where the first IVF baby Louise Brown was born in 1978 \u2013 offer one cycle free to patients on the NHS.<\/p>\n

Last month, former IVF patients spoke to the Manchester Evening News, including a new mum who was only entitled to one cycle of IVF. She said that getting just one chance at having a child can make the pressure \u2018absolutely horrendous\u2019 <\/a>in a process that is already a \u2018minefield\u2019.<\/p>\n

The Manchester IVF patient said: \u201cI know the NHS doesn\u2019t have endless purse strings, but speaking from personal experience, it would have made a massive difference [to have more than one cycle available].<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the surface of it, some private providers appear to offer you one round for around \u00a33,500 \u2013 but it\u2019s incredibly misleading because there\u2019s hidden costs in lots of scans and tests to see which medications you need to be on.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the end of all that, it was looking more like \u00a310,000 per round. For so many people, that\u2019s just not an option.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were in a trust that offered three rounds and were just starting off to be told you\u2019d have those chances cut to one round, it would be absolutely gutting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew from the start that we would just have the one round that was on offer. I\u2019d definitely feel different if I had three rounds in front of me and then it was cut to one. Going from trebling your chances to just one round is hugely different.”<\/p>\n

(Left to right) Gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe, embryologist Jean Purdy and physiologist Robert Edwards at the birth the first IVF baby, Louise Brown(Image: Copyright Unknown)<\/p>\n

The region\u2019s NHS is now encouraging people to take part in a six-week public consultation about the proposed changes \u2013 which include one full IVF cycle to eligible women aged 39 and under, along with an additional attempt known as a ‘1+’ round if the first cycle is cancelled or abandoned.<\/p>\n

Greater Manchester\u2019s NHS claims this is to create an \u2018equitable\u2019, \u2018consistent approach\u2019 that\u2019s \u2018fair for everyone\u2019 across the city-region \u2013 saying it is fairer if all patients going through IVF get the same offer.<\/p>\n

Claire Connor, the director of communications and engagement at NHS Greater Manchester told Greater Manchester\u2019s joint health scrutiny committee on June 17: \u201cAt the moment, it is a bit of a postcode lottery depending on where in Greater Manchester you live as to how many cycles you\u2019re entitled to, funded by the NHS.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously that\u2019s not something that we want in Greater Manchester, we want to reduce inequalities, we want to make sure everyone has equal and fair access.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Connor told councillors how there has been \u2018extensive work\u2019 over \u2018years\u2019 to \u2018drill down the feasibility of one cycle, two cycles, three cycles, bringing in clinical input\u2019. The work has involved \u2018people that have experienced IVF themselves, been through it or have close links to it\u2019 to refine the options.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, funds are tight,\u201d said Ms Connor. \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to be as sensible as we can with the taxpayer\u2019s money, and make things as fair as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jennie Gammack, NHS Greater Manchester\u2019s programme director for sustainable services, told the meeting that \u2018it has come down to affordability\u2019 amid huge demands in the region for elective procedures, cancer care and urgent care, costing millions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to manage all of our health resources within an envelope and we\u2019ve only got a finite amount of resource,\u201d said Ms Gammack.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we don\u2019t want to do is decommission services, so we don\u2019t provide IVF for anybody.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve felt that, [with] the work that\u2019s been undertaken around the pre-consultation, [this] is the best option for our citizens right now, but that\u2019s not to say obviously in future years we wouldn\u2019t look at increasing the cycles.<\/p>\n

\u201cParticularly in Tameside, [where there\u2019s three cycles on the NHS], it\u2019s important we do engage those citizens to make sure that they understand the impact of that.<\/p>\n

\u201cWigan offers two cycles \u2013 so we\u2019ve had this real inequity in terms of service provision for years<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile it obviously won\u2019t be palatable to some, we\u2019re hopeful of the fact that we\u2019re not going down a \u2018we\u2019re just not commissioning IVF,\u2019 [which would mean] people would then have to look at privately funding or self-funding themselves. It\u2019s a means to not doing that\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cOne [cycle] across the board now that\u2019s better than none across the board.”<\/p>\n

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NHS Greater Manchester, which plans and pays for the region\u2019s health services, says the \u2018inconsistency stems from historic commissioning arrangements\u2019.<\/p>\n

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which makes recommendations to the NHS about what care it should give to patients while ensuring the best value for money for the taxpayer.<\/p>\n

NICE recommends people should be able to get three IVF cycles on the NHS, but the number of cycles that are actually on offer is at the discretion of local NHS organisations that run the services for their geographical areas.<\/p>\n

NHS Greater Manchester continued that one-cycle proposal comes because \u2018this is the current policy in the majority of Greater Manchester, meaning no change for most residents; and it aligns with offers in most other parts of England\u2019.<\/p>\n

Katherine Sheerin, chief commissioning officer at NHS Greater Manchester, said: \u201cWe know that fertility is a deeply personal and often emotional topic, which is why this consultation is so important. We want to ensure that everyone has the chance to contribute to the conversation about how these services are delivered fairly in Greater Manchester.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you\u2019ve had experience with IVF, are considering fertility treatment, or simply want to share your perspective, please take part and share your views.\u201d<\/p>\n

The consultation has been running from Wednesday, 18 June to today, Tuesday, 29 July 2025. You can take part by completing the online survey found on this website<\/a>, attending one of NHS Greater Manchester\u2019s local workshops or focus groups, or by contacting NHS GM to request information in a different format or language.<\/p>\n

The consultation is not proposing changes to the eligibility criteria or the current offer of one cycle for women aged 40-42, which follows national guidance.<\/p>\n

A report summarising the feedback will be published to make the final decision, which will be made at a public NHS Greater Manchester board meeting later this year.<\/p>\n

Email: gmhscp.engagement@nhs.net<\/strong><\/p>\n

Text\/call\/WhatsApp: 07786 673762<\/strong><\/p>\n

Freepost: NHS Greater Manchester Engagement Team, Chorley Road, Swinton, Salford, M27 5AS<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For some, watching their chances of having a baby cut would be \u2018absolutely gutting\u2019 \u2013 but health bosses…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":303837,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4316],"tags":[279,1285,105,4348,211,1286,1170,1290,1288,1026,1289,16,15,1287],"class_list":{"0":"post-303836","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthcare","8":"tag-bolton","9":"tag-bury","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-healthcare","12":"tag-nhs","13":"tag-oldham","14":"tag-rochdale","15":"tag-salford","16":"tag-stockport","17":"tag-tameside","18":"tag-trafford","19":"tag-uk","20":"tag-united-kingdom","21":"tag-wigan"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114942066480399621","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303836","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=303836"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/303836\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/303837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=303836"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=303836"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=303836"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}