I suppose this is not a post asking for help, but more just to let some steam off and see if it's just me struggling.
Last year we've had a failed IVF and this year we decided to move overseas to a different clinic after being quite disapointed with the experience we've had with the current NHS clinic. However, the amount of dealing with NHS paperwork, being given the wrong information and sent to a pathway only to then be told that that's not the right one, calling back and forth all the time, hitting walls of "we don't do this here" - all it's absolutely exhausting, on top of preparing mentally and emotionally for starting the process of IVF all over again.
Is it just be having such problems with the NHS or is it something that has become so entrenched in the system that is not even perceived anymore as harming the patients?
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Cridog
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I’ve been waiting a year just to be referred to a clinic by the hospital. Lost records, confused doctors, nurses who are IVF pathway coordinators not knowing what the next step is.
Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that female reproductive health is still not considered crucial enough by the NHS. Worse, that infertility is not categorized as a health condition and fertility treatments are “elective” not necessary.
Until that view changes within the NHS, it will always be difficult for those in the system to help those in need (the TTC community).
That said, we should be grateful that the NHS has come this far with IVF support considering it’s not offered in other countries as part of health services.
I feel your frustration though, and my only way of coping with this is to be super clear in my communications with them, and knowledgeable of the process in my area.
Hy I feel the same way the only difference is I waited 3.5 years to get to IVF....done 1 and was unsuccessful..this year in October I'm going to be 40 and I think they don't want to offer me another IVF as I'm close to 40...,2 cycles gone my 3rd in September....and my appointment with them is 3 rd of September...I really hope they will consider another IVF....but since they are doing video call...I think they will not....😔
Hi tash1989, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts with me, I cannot agree more!
Yes, I am very grateful that NHS/the government support us, although at the same time more can be done (there's a lot of outcry about decrease in fertility in the UK, yet there isn't enough effort to support it). We are moving to a clinic in Romania and it seems that their system is very different from the one here. The government also funds fertility programs (unfortunately we don't qualify). You can apply for fertility vouchers to cover the treatment, but you can take the vouchers to the clinic of your choice anywhere in the country (including private). The age threshold is also slightly higher, up to 45 for the female. It's a highly successful program, and the fertility specialists seem to pay a lot of attention to the personal circumstance. With NHS, we have done hardly any investigations of infertility causes, even though I described symptoms very consistent with endometriosis (the NHS fertility specialist told us there is no need for investigations).
I am dreading the prospect of having to deal again with the NHS clinic for transferring our remaining embryo and eggs to the clinic in Romania, as I expect that things will be nothing but straightforward. So far, every single step and stage has been a massive struggle.
Good luck in your journey and thank you so much again for sharing! xxx
100% this, with fertility and recurrent miscarriage care.
You can ask for all records to be released to you and then contact your new clinic with those. I think there is a standard response time for that, circa 30 days.
If it is true NHS and not a standalone clinic attached to the hospital, you can also fo a subject access request, which means all data held on you, even emails and internal communication has to be released within a legal time frame. Only public bodies are subject to that, so that's why they must be100% NHS and not run as a standalone business.
Hope that helps a bit, but 100% not just you.
You can also use complaints process, ours takes 25 working days.
Just to add to this - you submit a subject access request to private companies to. The ICO website has a lot of useful information if you're interested. ico.org.uk/for-the-public/g...
It's 100% not just you! We've been on one wait list after another, constantly jumping through hoops and chasing things up, it's been more stressful than the actual infertility for us. Unfortunately paying for it privately isn't an option for us, so just got to keep going with it
honestly nhs for me was a nightmare. Then when I decided to go abroad to get ivf. The nhs wouldn’t even do a blood test for me even though I offered to pay. The clinic had asked for basic blood levels and my local gp was like nope we can’t help. Then I had to get an intra muscular injection I had the injection just needed a professional to inject it they said nope we can’t help. So you tube it is then and did it ourselves.
I can understand they don’t want to get involved but a simple blood test. We should be able to go and get that anytime any way. And id have been happy to pay for the bloody thing.
Ended up flying to Spain for a couple of days and doing it there. The ivf on the nhs was just terrible long waiting times no one to actually coordinate or organise it properly. An absolute shambles to be honest xxx
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