Lesbians denied fertility treatment

4 October 2009 08:54am

Lesbians are still being denied fertility treatment despite a new law removing the need for a father, a campaign group has said.

The claim by Stonewall follows a survey using the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, which suggests same sex couples are being turned down on the grounds that funding is only available for women with fertility problems.

A total of 38 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) out of 152 in England responded to the survey by the Press Association, along with three of Scotland's 14 territorial health boards and the Health Commission Wales.

The survey asked how many lesbian couples had received or had been refused treatment over the last five years and the policy reasons for any refusal.

None released any record of lesbian couples receiving NHS-funded fertility treatment while two PCTs were "pending" decisions for two females in same sex relationships.

In total, seven PCTs said they had rejected applications from lesbian couples for fertility treatment.

A total 21 PCTs as well as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde did not record sexual orientation so could not provide the data.

Seven PCTs and two Scottish health boards said they had neither funded fertility treatment nor refused it to lesbian couples.

One PCT refused to release the information, stating it breached confidentiality rules, while the Health Commission Wales did not answer the questions but referred to its policy of treating "sub-fertile" women.

The survey coincides with the amended Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, which came into effect on Thursday, which replaces the 'need for a father' requirement with a recognition that children need 'supportive parenting'.

© The Press Association