Same sex couples to get IVF help in Greater Manchester

"What we want is for the trust to change its homophobic policy" - Fran and Adrienne

Health officials in Manchester are reviewing their policy on fertility treatment after admitting that it discriminates against same sex couples.

When Fran O'Neill and Adrienne Chin applied for free IVF treatment, they were told that, as a lesbian couple, they didn't qualify for funding.

The Burnage couple said they were "shocked" at the decision, describing the policy as "homophobic".

An NHS spokesman said steps are being taken to "address this anomaly".

'No funding'

Fran and Adrienne have been together for nine years.

Like many couples, they wanted to start a family but, finding it difficult to get pregnant, went to their GP who referred them to St Mary's Hospital in Manchester.

The draft document recognises that same sex couples should be treated in the same way as mixed sex couples Paul Carroll, chair of Gtr Manchester Assisted Conception Task Force

To their surprise, they received a letter from their primary care trust (PCT) explaining that there was no funding for fertility treatment of same sex couples.

"We were absolutely shocked," said Adrienne.

"When we embarked on the journey, we had expectations of all sorts of challenges.

"But to get a letter from a central Manchester hospital saying quite clearly 'no funding for same sex couples' was the last thing we expected."

'Homophobic'

Fran and Adrienne fell foul of a 'postcode lottery' affecting couples in Greater Manchester with some PCTs offering IVF treatment more freely than others.

Following criticism that it was unfair, Paul Carroll, chair of the Greater Manchester Assisted Conception Task Force, has now drawn up a new draft plan for the whole of Greater Manchester.

He admitted that the current policy - which dates back to 2006 - excluded same sex couples but said was being reviewed to 'address this anomaly.'

Fran and Adrienne went private to get fertility treatment

"NHS funding is available for sub-fertility not to fund reproduction," he said.

Adding: "However, the draft document currently under discussion in North West PCTs recognises that same sex couples should be treated in the same way as mixed sex couples in accessing assisted conception treatments if a couple can demonstrate that either one or both partners are sub-fertile."

That change in NHS policy - expected to be implemented in spring 2011 - will come too late to help Fran and Adrienne.

With both women in their late thirties and time against them, they took the decision to go private to receive fertility treatment, producing a healthy baby boy who was born in August this year.

But both women are angry at their treatment accusing NHS Manchester of contravening the Equality Act 2010.

Added Fran: "There are younger women coming up behind us in Manchester wanting to have babies.

"What we really want is for the primary care trust to change its homophobic policy to make it more inclusive."

Watch the full story on Inside Out North West on BBC iPlayer