Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy in respect of smokers and obese people being given access to National Health Service treatments such as in vitro fertilisation, varicose vein and hair removal treatments.

Blanket restrictions on procedures that do not take account of the individual healthcare needs of patients are unacceptable.

The commissioning of in vitro fertilisation, varicose vein and hair removal treatments, where clinically necessary, is a local matter.

Clinicians should take account of the latest available evidence and best practice guidance, if any, as well as the individual circumstances of each patient when considering the appropriateness of a treatment.