Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the full implementation of (a) equal access to IVF treatment for LGBTQ+ people and (b) the entire Women's Health Strategy.
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. Organisations are expected to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines, which are based on the clinical evidence of the most effective treatment. The Department will be working with NHS England to support ICBs to improve the current National Health Service offer for patients.
The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health, and we are considering how to take forward the Women’s Health Strategy for England. We will prioritise women’s health as we build an NHS fit for the future, and women’s equality will be at the heart of our missions.