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<p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question
in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with
the Member.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial"> <p><ins class="ministerial">The
level of provision of local health services, including fertility treatment, available
to patients is, and has been since the 1990s, a matter for local healthcare commissioners,
who must consider the needs and priorities of all their population. Clinical commissioning
groups (CCGs) have the current statutory responsibility to commission high-quality
services that meet the needs of their local population. Decisions about treatment
should always be based on patients’ clinical needs.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">
</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Secretary of State has no power to direct
individual CCGs in relation to their commissioning functions. The Department has no
role in the oversight of individual CCG board activities. If there are concerns about
provision of care, we expect NHS England to ensure the CCG is not breaching its statutory
responsibility to provide services that meet the needs of the local population. Where
performance concerns are identified, NHS England has the ability to exercise formal
legal powers to either provide an enhanced support to a CCG, or in rare circumstances
to intervene where it is believed that a CCG is failing, or is at risk of failing,
to discharge its functions.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">NHS England has advised that the CCGs in south east London have
agreed to undertake a rapid review of the NHS South East London’s Treatment Access
Policy Document in relation to access criteria for funding in vitro fertilisation
(IVF) by the end of November 2019. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">The CCGs have made a public apology for any offence caused by
the wording in the Treatment Access Policy Document in relation to single women’s
access to IVF treatment and the review document it refers to and agree that this wording
is unacceptable. The statement on page 34 is based on evidence from a review of literature
undertaken in 2011 by commissioners and public health doctors. The review references
literature available at the time.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">The rapid review will also specifically consider issues relating
to equality and discrimination in relation to single women. The CCGs will publish
the review alongside any changes to the revision of the policy.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">
</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">NHS England and NHS Improvement are aware that
the CCGs are undertaking a review of the policy, as the body responsible for that
policy. All CCG governing bodies were asked to review and approve any changes to the
NHS South East London Treatment Access Policy made for 2019/20.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">
</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In taking clinical decisions about fertility
treatment and taking account of their public sector equality duty, CCGs should make
assessments based on clinical infertility and not on relationship status.</ins></p></ins></p>
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