A blanket ban has been placed on requests for IVF, in vitro fertilisation, treatment because of depleted resources by care trusts, PCTs in some areas of the UK.

A spokesperson from NHS Warrington said, “Following recommendations from the review of IVF, the NHS Warrington Board has decided to stop funding IVF treatment. The decision will be reviewed in July 2011. The PCT will consider applications from GPs for 'exceptional treatment' approval where they consider there is an exceptional clinical need.”

IVF was the first to be cut after several services were reviewed by the Warrington Board that were expensive but which involve a low number of people and do not match the PCT's goals.

Despite 2004 guidelines from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence, NICE, out of the 124 trusts, nine stated that IVF treatment was not funded by them in the past two years.

NICE guidelines stated to all eligible patients up to three cycles of IVF should be made available.

Fertility expert Tony Rutherford, chair of the British Fertility Society, said, “This is a retrograde step, out of keeping with all messages coming from central Government, and shows scant regard for the needs of the one in six couples who suffer from infertility.”