COUPLES desperate to have children face a further delay before health bosses decide if they will pay for their treatment. After a consultation exercise involving would-be parents in Wigan and Bolton, doctors, clinicians and the CHC, the question of who can receive NHS funding for treatment is still unresolved. Among the main issues was whether couples, where either partner has a disability, should be denied funding for IVF and other assisted conception treatments.

Twenty six per cent of the 80 people who took part in the consultation thought not and suggested it breached the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act.

The vast majority disagreed with the suggestion that no woman over the age of 35 should be accepted on the waiting list or where the man is over 40.

Less than half agreed that if either partner had a child from a previous relationship, they too would be ineligible.

The point was made that this should only apply to those who had a child for which they were legally responsible and who was living with the couple.

"Before we can go any further we need to seek clarity on several of the points made during this consultation process," said David Lea, secretary of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority. z

"A number of very significant issues have been raised which need further thought. We need to bring a further report back to the health authority as soon as possible."

The meeting was told both regional and national guidance on funding for assisted conceptions was expected soon.

Jenny Crabb, chief officer of Bolton Community Health Council agreed that the health authority should look again at the age criteria and whether the criteria should cover couples with children, regardless of whether they live with them.

Commenting on the consultation, she said: "The CHC recognises that restrictions have to be placed on who can receive treatment - and how much - and hopes that the health authority will sort out the remaining issues surrounding disability and age etc, as soon as possible to limit the stress couples in this situation have to deal with as much as possible."

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