Charity welcomes IVF funding plan

If the States Assembly agrees the funding in November, the new criteria will be introduced from 1 January

A Jersey fertility charity says it welcomes government plans to make it easier for couples to get fertility treatment.

If the States of Jersey agrees the plans, women in a household that earns below £82,300 a year could have up to three cycles of fertility treatment funded by the health department.

Households that earn below £200,000 could be eligible for two funded cycles while all couples, regardless of their income, could be eligible for one round of treatment.

The proposed eligibility criteria would replace the current system that funds IVF for couples with a combined income below £40,795.

'Definite step forward'

Chloe Fosse, the founder of Tiny Seeds, said the proposals were a "definite improvement".

She said: "There will hopefully now be many people that will qualify for some level of IVF funding when they would not have done before.

"I hope to see it used as a stepping stone for even more improvements in the future and even wider access for more people because there are still some limitations, but it's a definite step forward from where we are now."

In all cases, IVF must be clinically appropriate and the woman must be under 40, or aged 40 to 42 and have undergone tests showing they are likely to respond to treatment.

Other eligibility criteria include the couple being in a stable relationship and for both partners to be childless.

The new criteria will be introduced from 1 January 2025 if the States Assembly approves the funding in November.