Tarring couple refused NHS IVF treatment

DESPERATE to have children, a Worthing couple who cannot conceive naturally have been left feeling “let down” and “upset” after the NHS refused to fund their IVF treatment.

By The Newsroom

Published 7th Mar 2013, 09:00 BST

Felicity and Nigel McCluskey, of Haynes Road, Tarring, cannot have children because Nigel suffers from cystic fibrosis.

But so strong is their desire to start a family, they are considering taking out a bank loan and have set-up a fund-raising group to pay for private treatment.

Felicity said: “We knew that we would have problems conceiving because of Nigel’s condition, so we decided to go down the IVF route.

“Our doctor at the St Lawrence Surgery referred us to a consultant in Rustington, who told us we wouldn’t be able to get the treatment.”

Because of Nigel’s condition he would require a special procedure, known as surgical sperm removal, or SSR. As a result, one attempt at IVF would cost the couple £6,500.

They have already raised £1,200 through donations from friends and family but now funding has begun to dry up.

For the full story, see the Worthing Herald, out today (Thursday, March 7).

NHS Rustington