Involvement aims to capture views on assisted conception across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

People across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are to be asked their views on assisted conception.

From tomorrow (Wednesday 1 March) until Wednesday 22 March, the public can fill in an online survey and take part in two online events.

The aim is to address the current variation in access that exists across the area, with one cycle of assisted conception (such as IVF) being offered in most of Staffordshire but two in Stoke-on-Trent (there are further differences which are explained online).

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, Chief Medical Officer for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “We need to have a consistent approach across our footprint and have therefore developed a draft interim, policy. We would now like to hear what our residents think of it.”

“We need a consistent, evidence based policy across the ICB to replace the various inconsistent polices inherited from the six clinical commissioning groups to remove any suggestion of unwarranted and unfair variation of access across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”

 “We will be asking the public for views and comments on our draft interim policy for assisted conception, which we have developed following the release of the Women’s Health Strategy for England in summer 2022. This is a national 10-year strategy which will include a review of fertility services across England. We also expect updated NICE guidance on fertility treatments at the end of 2024.”

Dr Edmondson-Jones added: “Ideally we would wait for the updated NICE Guidance but it would take too long before we could produce and consult on a policy based on that guidance.  That is why we are looking at an interim policy to bridge the gap between the current time and any long term policy in 2025.”

People can find out more, take part in the survey and book a place for the online events on the ICB website.

The online events are being held on:

• Wednesday 15 March, 12:30pm to 2pm

• Monday 20 March, 6pm to 7:30pm

For further information or a paper copy of the survey, contact the Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit (MLSCU) Involvement team by email: mlcsu.involvement@nhs.net or call 0333 150 3069.