AQW 462/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 17/01/2020
Answered On Date: 04/02/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health when his Department will begin the 3 free cycles of IVF.

Answer:

I am pleased that the New Decade, New Approach Agreement committed to providing 3 funded IVF cycles for eligible women.

The Regional Fertility Centre does not currently have the capacity to meet the demand for treatment arising from offering 3 cycles of IVF to all eligible women, as there are not enough trained staff to carry out the procedures, nor is there enough space at the premises to facilitate a higher number of patients.

My officials are currently giving urgent consideration to how this issue can be taken forward and as such I am unable to give a definitive implementation date at this stage.