23/03/2010

Views Sought On Fertility Treatment

Patients have been urged to express their views on fertility treatment offered by the NHS in a new national survey.

Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority (HFEA) said it aims to gauge the views and experiences of people throughout the UK who have had, are undergoing or are preparing for fertility treatment.

Tens of thousands of people go through fertility treatment every year.

Their views and concerns about the treatment they receive are important in helping improve the quality of care across the sector, HFEA said.

Being run in collaboration with Ipsos MORI, the panel will be balanced in terms of age, gender, location and ethnicity, to provide a representative sample of people’s experiences from across the UK.

People taking part in the ‘Fertility - Have Your Say’ panel will be contacted roughly every three months to be asked questions regarding their experiences, values and about the support they need at each stage of their treatment.

The survey will give people a chance to comment on their care and will help HFEA shape the broader policies affecting the fertility sector as a whole.

Prof Lisa Jardine, Chair of the HFEA, said: "The views of people going through fertility treatment are important to us because they are the only ones who can tell us what it’s really like.

"The information we gather from this panel will be invaluable in helping to shape the fertility sector to provide the best possible experience and outcome for patients."

(PR/GK)

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