States vote to improve IVF funding

Couples in Jersey who are struggling to start a family could get more funding to help them in the future.

The States Assembly has agreed the current system should be replaced.

At the moment, fully-funded treatment is only available to those with a combined household income of less than £40,795.

Deputy Lucy Stephenson, who has experience of IVF and is a founding governor of fertility charity Tiny Seeds, brought a proposal - saying she threshold was too low for anyone to benefit.

She wanted an end to means-testing, and for Jersey to follow UK clinical guidance from NICE and fully-fund three cycles of IVF treatment for women under 40, and one cycle for 40-42 year olds.

"Infertility is a disease and it affects around 1 in 6 people in our community, and that is a conservative estimate.  It does not discriminate.  It affects men and women and people from all backgrounds."

However, States members stopped short of scrapping means-testing completely and supported a change of wording put forward by Health Minister Tom Binet that removed the commitment to NICE recommendations.

He said the funding - an estimated £617k  -was not in place to pay for it.

Ultimately, Tuesday's vote means the minister has to work on an improved offering for islanders seeking IVF treatment, with revised 'access criteria that meets good clinical standards'.