What is the average waiting time for ivf on the nhs

This is something which is much easier in a private clinic environment where they provide you with patient portals and dedicated staff who you can call any time. Where you might need to inject yourself in a restaurant toilet at 9.

Choice : a key point to consider is that the choice of clinic you can access may be limited with NHS provision based on postcode or the agreements in place. You may therefore receive a choice of two or three clinics.

If you were paying privately you could choose wherever you wanted based on success rates and other factors. It is important to note that you may be one of the lucky ones who accesses NHS treatment through a private clinic. Many private clinics also treat a percentage of NHS patients so you would get access to the same doctors, treatment and facilities as someone paying privately.

This is not guaranteed of course and waiting times can still typically be longer than private patients but it might be a risk worth taking. It is always worth doing your own research on clinics in your area before you get the call for the appointment so that you can make the best decision when provided with your options. It may surprise you that 6 in every 10 infertility treatment cycles are privately funded.

This could be as a result of the strict NHS eligibility criteria and limited funded cycles in certain areas e. Some people complain that private clinics are just interested in making money.

That they charge you the main price but then there are other things you need that are not included in the main price so you can end up paying much more than the initial cost you saw. People criticise the add-ons that private clinics advertise even though they are not evidence-based. The key is to do your own research. On the whole we get feedback that private clinics have nicer surroundings, free parking, shorter wait times, greater choice of treatments and clinics, more flexibility around your commitments and greater dedicated care.

You should bear in mind though that some private clinics are based within an NHS hospital. With the NHS, once you have completed your one-three cycles you will then need to transfer to a private clinic and pay for any further treatment you wish to try. Find this article useful? Depending on the area you live in, couples eligible for NHS funding can wait between a few months and up to three years to start fertility treatment.

The main reason for long waiting times are the limited resources available to the NHS. In addition to this, all NHS patients must follow a specific pathway for treatment. There are many different steps to complete, all separately, before being referred to an assisted conception unit where treatment can begin; all this delays the process.

When it comes to the private sector, waiting lists are mainly created to manage workloads and staff resources. If tests show IVF is the only treatment likely to help you get pregnant, you should be referred straight away.

Again, if tests show IVF is the only treatment likely to help you get pregnant, you should be referred straight away. NHS trusts across England and Wales are working to provide the same levels of service. Some clinics can be contacted directly without seeing your GP first, but others may ask for a referral from your GP.