NHS to make decisions on future of inpatient mental health and assisted conception services

The NHS body responsible for the health and care of the 1.2 million people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent is due to make decisions on two key programmes of work next week (21 December) following a long programme of public involvement.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) will be asked whether or not to make permanent, temporary changes made to inpatient mental health services in the south of the county following a fire at the George Bryan Centre in 2019.

The Board will also be asked to approve an interim aligned policy which would make the criteria for accessing assisted conception services the same across the whole of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Currently, there are three different policies in place, meaning that the ability to access assisted conception can be different depending on where you live.

The aligned policy is proposed as an interim solution because wider national reviews of assisted conception services are soon to take place. The Women’s Health Strategy will include a review of fertility services across England, and updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on fertility treatments is expected at the end of 2024.

Chris Bird, Interim Chief Transformation Officer for the ICB, said: “I want to thank all the people who have talked to us about their thoughts and views, and in many cases very personal experiences, with these two involvement exercises.

“This feedback is a vital part of our considerations when we meet as a Board to make our final decision next week, looking at all of the evidence.”

People can read the board papers, and can register to attend the meeting through the ICB website.