The NHS Kent and Medway assisted reproductive technologies (ART) policy document sets out which fertility treatments (such as IVF) are funded by the NHS and the eligibility criteria Kent and Medway patients must meet to receive them.
These criteria were developed to:
- focus resources on groups of patients most likely to have successful outcomes
- prioritise groups of patients who are most likely to have the greatest need.
Policies included in the ART policy document have undergone a rigorous review process by a group of doctors, pharmacists, commissioners and a member of the public.
Restricted (prior approval required)
Treatment is funded by NHS Kent and Medway ICB but only where a patient meets the eligibility criteria set out in the relevant policy and their consultant has obtained funding approval before the treatment is performed; this is called ‘prior approval’.
Requests for prior approval should be submitted by the treating consultant to scwcsu.ifrsoutheast@nhs.net.
The treating consultant must complete and submit The Assisted Conception Prior Approval and Fertility Preservation Form (PA).
Once you have received prior approval, you will need to consider details of where you can access treatment.
For patients not meeting the eligibility criteria, the ICB will only fund the treatment if an individual funding request application is successful. Hospitals and other health care providers should be aware that payment may be withheld if prior approval was not given prior to the procedure being carried out.
Exceptions
There is no blanket ban on any of the treatments covered in the ART policy document.
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for a particular treatment or the treatment is not normally funded, your doctor can make an individual funding request if they think that you meet the criteria for ‘exceptionality’ or ‘rarity’.
Visit our individual funding requests page for more information.