Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that NICE guidance on the commissioning of IVF treatment is implemented in each clinical commissioning group.

The availability of National Health Service funded in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) fertility treatment is a matter for local determination. In making decisions on the level of service provision, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) take account of the health care needs and priorities of their local population. They are also expected to take account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guideline ‘Fertility: Assessment and treatment for people with fertility problems’.

To support CCGs to effectively commission IVF services, the Department, NHS England, professional and stakeholder groups are working together to develop a benchmark price for IVF to ensure that CCGs get the best value for their money. Additionally, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has developed commissioning guidance to improve the quality of commissioning. NHS England has agreed to disseminate and promote the guidance to all CCGs in England.