Bristol Women’s Voice opposes the changes that NHS Bristol CCG is proposing: specifically, lowering the eligibility age for fertility treatment from 40 to 35 and defunding reconstruction on the unaffected breast following breast cancer surgery.
We firmly agree with local councillors who have said that these changes “will have a discriminatory and negative impact on women.”
As the councillors have rightly said, the proposed changes to IVF eligibility guidelines from NICE, which has recently called for the NHS to “stop rationing fertility treatment” and to provide three full cycles of treatment to under 40s who have not fallen pregnant after two years and one full cycle for some women aged 40-42.
We echo the councillors, who state refusing corrective surgery will have a detrimental “psychological impact on women recovering from breast cancer and will leave many women with a much poorer result from their reconstructive surgery.”
BWV is proud to be part of the Women’s Commission and the Health Task Group, which oversees work around Bristol women’s health and is working towards a women’s health strategy for the city. The health task group will be looking at how we can move forward and challenge these proposed cuts, which will be detrimental to Bristol.
The CCG’s proposed changes are out to consultation and we will be responding as BWV. We urge our members and supporters to do the same: www.bristolccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/nhs-service-proposals/
Closing date 15 September 2017
