Getting started

If you are having trouble conceiving, you can ask your GP to refer you to the Fertility Clinic in Gynaecology Outpatients at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

At this appointment baseline investigations will be arranged for both male and female partners.

Following the results of these tests, a care plan will be determined and, if appropriate, you may be referred to the Assisted Conception Unit.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for treatment in the Assisted Conception Unit, you must fulfil the following criteria:

• The female partner must be less than 46-years-old by the time that treatment is carried out
• The female partner should have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 35kg/m2
• A ‘Welfare of the Child’ assessment must be carried out

Funding

When it comes to paying for fertility treatment, there are 2 options:

• You may be eligible for funding from the NHS
• If you are not eligible for funding from the NHS, you can ‘self-fund’ the cost of your treatment and drugs

NHS-funded treatment

If eligible, NHS funding can cover the costs of assisted conception treatment.

If you are hoping to have fertility treatment on the NHS you will need a referral from your GP to the Fertility Clinic in Gynaecology Outpatients.

You can choose to be referred to this clinic at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital wherever you live—you do not need to live locally.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published a guideline on fertility treatment which covers what levels of funding should be available throughout England.

For more detailed information, please visit www.nice.org.uk.

Decision-making on the amount of funding available for assisted conception treatment is made at a local level by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).

PCTs across England have different eligibility criteria for access to funding which can include limits on a patient’s Body Mass Index (BMI), whether or not couples already have children, and the number of previous fertility treatment cycles.

In order to know whether you are able to access NHS funding in England contact your local PCT, speak to your GP, or contact the National Infertility Awareness Campaign (NIAC) via email at niac@infertilitynetworkuk.com.

You can find contact details for your local PCT in your local telephone directory or by visiting www.nhs.uk.

If you are eligible for NHS funded treatment, you will still have to pay normal prescription charges for your fertility drugs (unless you are exempt from paying prescription charges).

Self-funded treatment

If you are not eligible for funding from the NHS, you can ‘self-fund’ the cost of your treatment and drugs. You are charged the same cost as the NHS.

Patients self-funding their treatment receive exactly the same care as patients funded by the NHS. Self-funded patients are liable for all associated costs for treatment and investigations.

Costs for self-funded and private patients

Click here to download our price list.