Warrington South MP Sarah Hall has spoken out against proposed changes to local NHS fertility treatment policies, warning they could unfairly restrict access for families trying to conceive.
The changes, currently under consultation by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside would reduce the number of IVF cycles funded by the NHS in Warrington from three cycles to one for those who are 39 or younger.
Currently, around 734 people in Cheshire and Merseyside access NHS IVF each year. In Warrington, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside spent around £257,000 in 24/25 funding IVF cycles.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside is proposing to replace its ten separate fertility policies with one single policy, so that in the future people have the same level of access to NHS fertility treatment wherever they live in our area.
The public consultation is open until 15th July 2025. Local residents are encouraged to share their views on the proposed changes to fertility treatment policies. The consultation is open now, and responses can be submitted online via the official survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/9C72THS.
Sarah Hall, MP for Warrington South said: “These proposed changes risk making fertility treatment something only the wealthy can afford, and that’s simply wrong. The ability to start a family should never depend on your income or postcode.
“As someone who has long championed women’s healthcare and local NHS services, I will be making my opposition to these changes clear in the consultation, and I urge constituents to do the same. We must not allow our NHS to put cost-cutting ahead of compassion and fairness.
“The Labour Government has made clear its commitment to rebuilding the NHS after years of decline under the Conservatives. That means expanding access to services, not rolling it back.”
