A lesbian couple have won the right to NHS treatment to help them have a
baby after threatening to sue health chiefs.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
(GGC) had denied Caroline Harris and Julie McMullan IVF treatment as they were
not classified as an infertile couple.
The health board said it had reviewed
its position in light of regulations, including the Equality Act.
The women,
who were suing the health board for treatment costs, said they had not yet been
offered a settlement.
The couple were claiming £20,000 after unsuccessful
private fertility treatment, which followed them being refused NHS help.
They had taken their case to the Court of Session in Edinburgh and a
judicial review of the decision was due to take place at a later date.
The
health board at first stood by its refusal, but it has now agreed to offer the
couple treatment at an assisted conception unit.
A spokesman for the board
said: "As a couple, these two individuals are biologically incapable of
conceiving and the board, therefore, initially took the view that the couple did
not meet the necessary criteria to receive NHS-funded treatment.
“ The
board's treatment acceptance criteria were applied to this couple in the same
way they would be applied to any couple ” NHS GGC spokesman
"The board has,
however, reconsidered its position in light of other regulations, including the
Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act 2008 and Equality Act (Sexual
Orientation) regulations 2007, and has now decided to offer treatment to this
couple." ...

posted by Elizabeth Marquardt at 2:09 PM | link

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