VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Fertility: Medical Treatments

Asked by Pippa HeylingsLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 6 June 2025UIN 56673

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) that Integrated Care Boards are (i) required and (ii) resourced to deliver fertility services in accordance with NICE guidelines entitled Fertility problems: assessment and treatment, published on 20 February 2013 and (b) equality of access to fertility treatments across England.

Answered by Karin Smyth

In the light of broader pressures on the National Health Service and on-going changes within NHS England, we have been looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently reviewing their guidelines, Fertility problems: assessment and treatment, which will be the clinical standards for the future NHS offer.

The Department is also considering how best to support integrated care boards to improve their local offer.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim