Obtaining funding for fertility services through the NHS

Abstract

There is considerable anecdotal evidence that where a coherent, consistent and concise message, coupled with an active and resilient lobby campaign has been taken to a health authority and local MPs, funding has followed. The key feature of these efforts has been clinicians and patients working together. Also, campaigns are the more successful with the more patients that can be involved and this is an area where clinicians could play a major role in motivating patients to apply pressure on health authorities. Many infertility specialists and other professional colleagues have been very active in arguing the case both on their own account and when backing the work of the National Infertility Awareness Campaign and patients generally. Others have not. For them, this article is their call to arms.