NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) has launched a six-week public consultation on proposed changes to local fertility treatment policies, running from 3 June – 15 July 2025.
Currently, there are ten separate policies for Cheshire and Merseyside, which means that eligible people have varying access to NHS-funded fertility treatment, depending on where they live.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, the organisation which is responsible for planning local health services, is proposing to replace these policies with a new, single policy. This would mean that in the future, people across Cheshire and Merseyside would get the same access to NHS fertility treatment.
As part of the policy, it is proposed that one cycle of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is funded for those who are eligible. Currently, between one and three cycles are provided on the NHS, depending on which part of Cheshire and Merseyside people live in.
At the moment, the local NHS spends over £5 million on IVF treatments every year, and it is estimated that moving to offering one IVF cycle would save around £1.3 million annually.
It would also mean that Cheshire and Merseyside was in line with the majority of other areas in England – 66% of ICBs only fund one IVF cycle.
A number of other changes are also being proposed within the new policy, to help standardise some eligibility criteria, and update the local policy to reflect national clinical guidance.
This includes proposed changes to eligibility based on BMI (body mass index), smoking status, age, the definition of childlessness, and changes to the requirement for IUI (intra uterine insemination) before IVF treatment in some areas.
A six-week public consultation is being held between 3 June to 15 July 2025, giving people the opportunity to learn more about the proposed changes and share their views.
People can download an information booklet and complete a short questionnaire on the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside website at: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/get-involved/current-consultations-and-engagements/share-your-views-on-proposed-changes-to-fertility-treatment-policies-in-cheshire-and-merseyside/
Anyone who would like to request some help to complete the questionnaire, or to request a printed version or an alternative format or language, can do so by phoning: 0151 295 3052 or emailing: [email protected]
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Deputy Medical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said:
“The NHS is currently facing serious financial challenges, and this means we’re having to make some very difficult decisions about how we spend our local health budget.
“We know that access to fertility treatment is a sensitive issue, but we believe that moving to a single IVF cycle is the best way to ensure that we can continue to provide this treatment for our population.
“We have drafted the new policy based on what we feel balances local need and affordability, but before we finalise it, we are committed to listening to feedback from our communities.
“We want to encourage people to share their views by taking part in the public consultation, to tell us how these changes might affect them, and what they think might help to minimise any negative impact.”
Once the consultation closes, the findings will be analysed and compiled into a report. This will be presented to the Board of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside for a final decision, likely in late summer or early autumn 2025.
Further information will then be shared about the outcome, and what this means for people who use fertility services. Until then, the existing policies will still apply and people can continue to access fertility treatment just as they do now.
To learn more and take part in the online questionnaire, go to: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/get-involved/current-consultations-and-engagements/share-your-views-on-proposed-changes-to-fertility-treatment-policies-in-cheshire-and-merseyside/
To stay updated on how this work progresses, people can also sign up to receive monthly NHS Cheshire and Merseyside email updates at: https://www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/latest/sign-up-for-updates/