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| Scottish NHS to extend IVF treatment | Scottish NHS to extend IVF treatment |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Access to fertility treatment will be widened in Scotland to make it the "fairest and most generous in the UK", the Scottish government has announced. | Access to fertility treatment will be widened in Scotland to make it the "fairest and most generous in the UK", the Scottish government has announced. |
| For the first time, couples who have children from a previous relationship will be able to have IVF treatment on the NHS. | For the first time, couples who have children from a previous relationship will be able to have IVF treatment on the NHS. |
| The number of cycles women undergo will also be increased from two to three to increase the chances of success. | The number of cycles women undergo will also be increased from two to three to increase the chances of success. |
| It follows recommendations made by the National Infertility Group. | It follows recommendations made by the National Infertility Group. |
| Work will now begin on implementing the plan, including setting out timescales for the introduction of the changes. | Work will now begin on implementing the plan, including setting out timescales for the introduction of the changes. |
| One in seven couples will have difficulty having a child, and about 2% of births in the UK are now the result of fertility treatment. | One in seven couples will have difficulty having a child, and about 2% of births in the UK are now the result of fertility treatment. |
| Scotland's health service has already met a target to see couples within a year and provide two rounds of treatment. | Scotland's health service has already met a target to see couples within a year and provide two rounds of treatment. |
| Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said she hoped widening access to IVF would help more couples who were struggling to conceive. | Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said she hoped widening access to IVF would help more couples who were struggling to conceive. |
| She added: "Scotland already leads the way on IVF access and rights in UK, and these changes will ensure Scotland's provision is a fair and generous as possible." | She added: "Scotland already leads the way on IVF access and rights in UK, and these changes will ensure Scotland's provision is a fair and generous as possible." |
| She was responding to the publication of a report by the National Infertility Group, which had recommended the changes. | She was responding to the publication of a report by the National Infertility Group, which had recommended the changes. |
| But Ms Campbell said the government would not be accepting a recommendation to remove eligibility for couples where the woman is aged between 40 and 42. | But Ms Campbell said the government would not be accepting a recommendation to remove eligibility for couples where the woman is aged between 40 and 42. |
| The existing criteria in this area would remain, Ms Campbell said, with women in that age range eligible for one cycle of treatment, if the couple fulfil certain additional criteria. | |
| The National Fertility Group had said that successful outcomes for fertility treatment for women between 40 and 42 were "very poor". | |
| 'Devastating effect' | 'Devastating effect' |
| Prof Adam Balen, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said the announcement on the extension of IVF treatment was "great news for people in Scotland planning a family who have fertility problems". | Prof Adam Balen, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said the announcement on the extension of IVF treatment was "great news for people in Scotland planning a family who have fertility problems". |
| He added: "Infertility affects one in seven couples, and treatment should be available on the NHS. Infertility can have a devastating effect on people's lives, causing distress, depression, and the breakdown of relationships. | He added: "Infertility affects one in seven couples, and treatment should be available on the NHS. Infertility can have a devastating effect on people's lives, causing distress, depression, and the breakdown of relationships. |
| "IVF treatment is cost-effective and enables childless couples the chance to have much wanted families." | "IVF treatment is cost-effective and enables childless couples the chance to have much wanted families." |
| The society has pointed to a "gulf" between IVF funding in Scotland and England, saying there was still a "postcode lottery" for fertility services south of the border. | The society has pointed to a "gulf" between IVF funding in Scotland and England, saying there was still a "postcode lottery" for fertility services south of the border. |