A leading centre for reproductive medicine in Bristol is one of the first in the UK to restart fertility treatment – after it was suspended due to the Government lockdown.
Following this week’s decision by the fertility regulator, the HFEA, allowing fertility clinics to apply to recommence routine treatments, the Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM), based at Southmead Hospital has been named as one of the first clinics nationwide permitted to resume operations.
Fertility services were suspended on March 23 when the UK Government lockdown came into force.
Other elective NHS treatments were also put on hold.
The move to allow fertility services to restart comes as is part of a wider plan to ramp up services again now that the peak of the coronavirus pandemic has passed.
Clinic director, Mr Valentine Akande, said: “We are so very pleased to be announced as one of the clinics which can now restart the important work of helping people make babies.
“We have been working hard during lockdown to ensure that now this moment has arrived we are fully prepared to provide a safe service to patients and a safe working environment for our staff with all the necessary precautions including PPE.
“To this end, we have introduced more resources and innovations to allow us to deliver safe and streamlined care.
“This means a different way of working and ensuring that attendance in the building is only where necessary, such as for tests, scans and procedures that cannot be done remotely.
“We are now in the process of personally contacting patients whose treatment with us was delayed or interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and we are very much looking forward to seeing our patients again.”
To allow treatment to start, clinics have to comply with a series of strict guidelines.
These include introducing social distancing in waiting rooms, offering more appointments over the phone and using the correct personal protective equipment PPE.
BCRM is continuing to offer consultations remotely, using telephone or video meetings such as Zoom.
Any women or couples who wish to discuss having treatment and have not yet had an appointment are encouraged to book one because the clinic will be commencing treatment on a first-come-first-served basis going forward.
BCRM, which has the highest success rate in the South West for IVF, also offers a wealth of helpful information to women and couples experiencing fertility issues via their website, see www.FertilityBristol.com or to book a consultation call BCRM’s hotline on 0117 3018 605 or email info@BCRM.org.uk
