Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans her Department has to tackle regional variations in IVF funding; and if she will make it her policy to urgently implement the the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommendations of three full cycles for all who are eligible.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for decisions on the provision of local health services, which should be based on the clinical needs of the local population. We expect ICBs to commission fertility services taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) fertility guidelines to ensure equal access to treatment.

NICE is currently reviewing the latest clinical evidence to inform new fertility guidelines which is expected to be completed in 2024. The Women’s Health Strategy for England stated the ambition to work with NHS England to address the geographical variation in access to National Health Service-funded fertility services. The Department is currently considering priorities for implementation of the Women’s Health Strategy.