A MAJOR review into IVF treatment has prompted fears that some parents could miss out.

NHS commissioners are preparing for the wide ranging consultation which could also affect some cosmetic surgery procedures available on the NHS.

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Fertility campaigners already fear there is a ‘sustained move’ to divert funding away from NHS-funded IVF, with the county becoming the latest to question policies on how many cycles of assistance are provided to prospective parents.

Lancashire’s eight clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), including Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire, are set to review their policies in a bid to equalise the county’s approach to IVF and ‘cosmetic’ procedures.

A cycle of treatment can cost between £4,200 and £5,000, according to figures from campaigners, with medics requiring couples to have been in a steady relationship for three years.

Cosmetic surgeries could include tattoo removal, scar tissue, split ear lobes, baldness, breast reduction or augmentation and excess fat.

In 2013, following a recommendation by clinical watchdog NICE to offer IVF to women aged 40 and over, Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire said they each offered two cycles for women aged 39 and under.

But in Blackpool, where two cycles are also offered, assistance has been made available to 40 to 42 year olds, according to Fertility Fairness, a national campaigning group.

Some CCGs require couples to have been attempting to conceive for two or three years, while no minimum time span is dictated in East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.

Cllr Azhar Ali, Lancashire County Council’s health and wellbeing cabinet member, said: “I know that people may have different views about this and it is an issue that many are passionate about.

“But it is important for so many people, who have difficulty having children, and personally I feel they should be supported in that.

“There are other things which the CCGs provide which could be reduced or removed. We know they are facing cuts from the government but there needs to be priorities.

“However I do agree that there should be closer working between the CCGs so you don’t end up with a postcode lottery over services.”

Susan Seenan, co-chairman of Fertility Fairness, said: “Why is it increasingly deemed acceptable to remove access to NHS treatment for people with fertility problems?

“Infertility is defined as a disease and is as deserving of NHS treatment as any other condition. To ignore the plight of the 3.5million people in the UK who are unable to have children without medical help is cruel and unethical.”

The fertility campaigners said they had already seen widescale cuts in IVF in the southeast.

Clinical commissioning leaders are planning a series of ‘focus groups’ to draw up recommendations on the future of IVF and cosmetic surgery policy, starting in September, insisting they need to adopt a ‘consistent and fair’ approach countywide.

Dr Chris Clayton, Blackburn with Darwen CCG’s chief clinical officer, said: “CCGs are stewards of the local NHS and as such we are responsible for commissioning a wide range of clinical services, including secondary, community and mental health services for the area and for paying for those services, for and on behalf of, the local population. In some areas this also includes commissioning GP services.

“We need to ensure this is done in an open, fair and transparent manner but in so doing we must take into account the limited resources we have.”

And Judith Johnson, East Lancs CCG’s clinical commissioning head, said: “A key part of our stewardship role is to develop clinical policies that help us make decisions about the use of those limited resources, identifying the treatments and procedures that have low or limited value and which may reduce our ability to provide lifesaving and health preserving services.

“These clinical policies guide decisions on when these more limited treatments and procedures will be made available on the NHS.”

The first focus group is being held on Monday, September 5, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm for IVF and 5.45pm to 7.45pm for cosmetic procedures, at St Peter’s Health Centre in Burnley.

Two days later, at Accrington Victoria Hospital, cosmetics will be covered from 3pm to 5pm and assisted conception from 6pm to 8pm, in the dining room there.

And two sessions are planned for Blackburn, on Tuesday, September 27, and Thursday, September 29, both at Blackburn Central Library. On the first day, cosmetics will be dealt with from 2pm to 4pm and assisted conception from 6pm to 8pm, with the opposite timings for the second date.

Those interested are also able to complete two surveys online, for the disciplines, at http://tinyurl.com/DraftPolCosmeticProc-Survey and http://tinyurl.com/Assisted-Conception-Services