AQW 2876/16-21

Ms Clare Bailey
Green Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 12/09/2016
Answered On Date: 19/10/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health when her Department will introduce NICE Guidelines (CG156) on access to fertility, assessment and treatment.

Answer:

The Department endorsed the (NICE) Clinical Guideline on Fertility (CG156) in 2013. However, unfortunately, due to budget pressures, it has not yet been possible for the Health and Social Care Board to implement the guideline or to increase the number of IVF cycles offered to patients. This is due to the significant cost implications of implementation which have to be carefully considered within the context of ongoing budget pressures and other competing HSC services requiring new investment in the years ahead. I can advise you that I intend to work towards implementing the optimum number of cycles as recommended by NICE guidelines.