HEALTH bosses are expected to rubber stamp a proposal to slash free fertility treatment in East Cheshire tomorrow, in a bid to help reduce a deficit of more than £10 million.

The governing body of NHS Eastern Cheshire clinical commissioning group (CCG), which plans and buys the area’s healthcare, is due to discuss a motion to reduce IVF treatment at a meeting in Congleton.

It means that couples desperate to have a baby could face being limited to one cycle of IVF, when they previously were allowed three, while they could also be forced to try and conceive for three years instead of two.

Dr Luciano Nardo, clinical director of the Reproductive Health Group in Cheshire which provides private fertility treatments, has slammed the proposal as ‘devastating’ for the one in seven couples who have problems conceiving.

“The stress, anxiety and uncertainty this can bring should not be underestimated,” he said.

“Reducing access to fertility treatment on the NHS is not only short-sighted, but it is devastating news for those who are having problems and will now face even greater hurdles.”

Under the plan, male partners who smoke and are classed as either underweight or obese will also be denied free treatment. Currently these restrictions only apply to women.

The move follows a 90-day public consultation on changes to NHS services in the area, which was held by the CCG earlier this year.

Less than a third of respondents agreed with the CCG that IVF should be cut from three cycles to one.

One respondent said: “How can you compare ear wax removal to infertility treatment? It is so cruel and upsetting.

“It’s hard enough not being able to have babies like ‘normal’ people please don’t take this away from us. It’s all we have left.”

Another added: “The process of IVF is extremely stressful and difficult. Appointments, tests and just seeing the consultant takes month even over a year in some cases.

“To be only given one or two opportunities of IVF at the end of that stage is not enough.”

According to NICE, the chances of getting pregnant are around 30 per cent through the first cycle of IVF. This increases to 45 per cent after two cycles, and 54 per cent after three.

Dr Nardo added: "We regularly see couples who have had one failed cycle on the NHS, only to conceive through fertility treatment with us, proving additional cycles are effective."

In its consultation document, the CCG said: “This review, along with a number of other proposals the CCG is undertaking this year will help to make a significant impact on our ability to meet our legal duty to reduce our £10.77 million deficit.

“It will also mean that we are contributing to the wider changes necessary across the NHS.

“We believe this will offer an opportunity to reduce the amount spent each year on health services which have the lowest impact on patient care – this will enable us to allocate resources to other priority services.

“We understand however, there will be an impact on those directly affected.”

Under the same plans, funding for surgery to correct asymmetrical breasts and breast reduction surgeries could also be stopped.

Health bosses had proposed to reduce the number of knee replacements unless pain was classed as ‘severe’, or if disease could be demonstrated in all three compartments of the knee, but this was scrapped.

If approved, the changes are expected to be come into force from Saturday, April 1.