There is some good news to report today, as the Scottish Government has unveiled plans to change the criteria to obtain IVF on the NHS to include couples where one partner “has no biological child”.
At the moment, couples with children from a previous relationship are barred from having the state funded treatment.
However, a report by The National Infertility Group (previously known as Fertility Network Scotland) was discussed at Holyrood recently, and in it the charity recommends the changes are put in place by this September.
Talking about the importance of the new recommendations, Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell told the Daily Record: “For couples who are struggling to conceive, it can be a very difficult time. IVF treatment can provide an opportunity to help them have that longed-for baby.”
“We are working with health boards to implement changes so that couples with children in the home, but where one partner does not have a biological child, can access IVF."
The change comes after their June announcement to offer couples who were struggling to have a child a third phase of IVF treatment on the NHS across Scotland.
“We want to make sure access to treatment on the NHS is as fair as it can be – giving more people the opportunity to conceive. That is why we recently announced changes to the eligibility criteria for IVF, including provision for couples with children and increasing the number of available cycles from two to three,” Minister Campbell explained.
“These changes to access criteria will make IVF provision in Scotland the most generous across the UK.
“Fertility Network Scotland have been instrumental in making this happen and have been a vital partner in our work to improve fertility services in this country. I very much look forward to working with them in the future.”
