NHS North West London Integrated Care System (ICB) intends to review its In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) policy in its entirety in late 2025.
This will follow the expected publication of new IVF policy guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in May 2025.
North West London ICB will reference NICE guidelines in tandem with reviewing their own clinical criteria, as outlined in the current IVF policy, available here.
The review will be thorough and will reflect the ICB's commitment to delivering both a high level of care, reducing inequalities in health and healthcare, and being fiscally responsible.
A spokesperson for NHS North West London says:
“We are aware that NHS North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) is due to review its IVF policy. We also recognise that some of our neighbouring ICBs differ in the number of IVF cycles offered.
“However, given that NICE is undergoing its own IVF policy review, the ICB’s Policy Development Group (PDG) were minded to defer until after the NICE publication.
“Although this will mean a small delay, the ICB’s PDG believes this is counterbalanced by taking into consideration any new guidance, in order to provide its own considered and thorough policy review.”
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NOTE TO EDITORS
Current IVF policy for couples, same sex couples and single people in NHS North West London
Current IVF policy guidance for couples and same-sex couples living in North West London offers one cycle of IVF treatment (+/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) if an identified pathological problem of unexplained infertility has been established.
IVF will be funded for same-sex couples, or a woman not in a partnership if they have an identified pathological problem or unexplained infertility has been established; provided that evidence is available to demonstrate that at least 12 cycles of self-funded donor sperm and artificial insemination (AI) has been undertaken by a licensed provider (where at least six are by Intrauterine Insemination IUI).
Other criteria such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and smoking status must also be met.
Where the policy criteria has not been met and a GP or hospital consultant considers a case to be clinically exceptional, an Individual Funding Request (IFR) on a patient’s behalf can be applied for. This should demonstrate the clinical exceptionality which makes the case significantly different to all the other patients with the same clinical circumstances, in order to be considered for NHS funding outside of the current IVF Policy. Each request will be reviewed by the North West London IFR Panel and the case for clinical exceptionality will be given due consideration.