This will allow an additional 200 women to receive treatment before April 2009. The investment will also help reduce waiting times.
The Minister also told the Assembly that he is launching a public consultation on the way forward for publicly funded fertility treatment in Northern Ireland.
The Minister was reporting to the Assembly on the conclusion of a review of the service, carried out by his Department in conjunction with the service and a group comprising stakeholders.
In a statement to the Assembly, the Minister said: “I am delighted to be able to invest an additional £800,000 in fertility services this year which will help around 200 women access the publicly funded service.
“In addition I want to consult on the outcome of my Department’s recent review of publicly funded fertility services. The purpose of this review was to ensure that we are providing fair and equitable access to this service and that we are making the best possible use of the resources at our disposal.
“The review has considered access criteria for the service, waiting list management and how any extra funding can best be utilised. It is now time to present the proposals to the public and hear their views on what they want from publicly funded fertility services.”
The Minister thanked the stakeholder group for their contribution to the review. This included service users who provided valuable consideration of the access criterion.
Notes to Editors:
- The review of publicly funded fertility treatment was carried out following an Assembly debate on the subject in October 2007. It was carried out by DHSSPS in conjunction with the service and a stakeholder group containing representatives of both the service and service users.
- Publicly funded fertility treatment has been available in Northern Ireland since 2001, initially on an interim basis.
- The consultation document is available on www.dhsspsni.gov.uk
- Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0636, or out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
