£12m boost to cut IVF waiting times

Sep 23 2012

Funding of £12 million is being invested over the next three years to help bring down waiting times for infertility treatment across Scotland.

The cash will go towards improving access to IVF in all NHS boards, the Scottish Government said.

It was allocated as part of Finance Secretary John Swinney's spending plans announced in Holyrood earlier this week.

More details about the initiative have been announced, with £2 million to be invested in 2012/13, £4 million the following year and a further £6 million in 2014/15.

The money will support the Government's commitment to deliver a maximum waiting time of 12 months for IVF treatment by March 2015.

Michael Matheson, the minister for public health, said: "There is a great demand for fertility treatment and we know it can be very upsetting for patients to have to wait for treatment, especially when the amount of time couples wait for treatment can vary across the country.

"This funding will enable NHS boards to invest in their IVF services, and will help to achieve our 12-month waiting times commitment, which will ensure that eligible patients have equity of access for this treatment.

"This will mean, for the first time ever in Scotland, all eligible patients will receive treatment within 12 months of being diagnosed as requiring IVF."