IVF funding changes seen as positive step

Chloe Fosse founded Tiny Seeds to help those in Jersey struggling with fertility problems

The founder of a Jersey fertility charity said changes to the eligibility for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in the island was "another positive step forward".

Changes came into force on Wednesday and would make funded IVF treatment accessible to same-sex female couples as well as if one partner already had children, provided they did not currently have a child together.

There had been criticism of the eligibility criteria when figures in July showed that £62,000 from the £620,000 had been spent.

Chloe Fosse from Tiny Seeds charity said: "We're delighted to see that more people can now benefit."

'Encouraging'

The government brought in funding for IVF treatment for the first time this year and Ms Fosse said it would be a learning process.

She said "They want to approach this cautiously because they don't know necessarily what the figures are yet and how many people will come forward".

Ms Fosse added: "I'd be cautiously hoping that there may be the opportunity to widen it again... it's encouraging those changes have been listened to and there are those changes being made."

The charity has also called for any funding that had not been spent this year for IVF treatment to be ring-fenced to support couples in 2026.