Fertility: LGBT+ People
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of access to fertility treatment for female couples.
Answered by Karin Smyth
Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. ICBs are expected to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. We are aware that compliance with these guidelines is variable for same-sex female couples and other groups.
The NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guideline and will consider whether the current recommendations for access to National Health Service-funded treatment are still appropriate. We expect this review to be published later in 2025. The Department is working with NHS England to consider future policy options to support ICBs to provide more equitable in vitro fertilization services.
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