Fertility treatment is being restarted after it was stopped due to coronavirus — bringing hope to thousands of couples desperate for a baby.
IVF clinics will be given the green light to reopen from May 11, provided they can ensure social distancing and safety. The news will be a massive relief to women whose appointments were put on hold indefinitely from March 23, and who feared they could miss a last chance to have a baby.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock ruled that all fertility services can now restart. However, clinics will be required to set out a strategy to show they are meeting conditions to provide safe and effective treatment during the pandemic. That will include strict social distancing in waiting rooms and telephone appointments where suitable, and the wearing of appropriate protective equipment.
The announcement was to be made at today’s No10 daily briefing, insiders revealed to the Evening Standard. Mr Hancock said: “Now that we are past the peak, I am delighted to announce the restoration of fertility services. People who are relying on fertility treatment have been worried during these unprecedented times not knowing when they could continue their journey to start a family. We wanted to open these clinics as soon as it was safe to do so.”
Earlier this week, rules were changed to allow frozen eggs, sperm and embryos to be stored for 12 years — two years longer than the current maximum.
