New role to boost bid for quicker IVF

THE lobbying of NHS Lothian on infertility treatment is set to move up a gear after a charity appointed a local co-ordinator.

Infertility Network Scotland has created the role after it emerged the waiting time for IVF treatment in the Lothians was three years.

The organisation said it would work closely with the health board and the Scottish Government to address the situation.

Pointing out that in some regions of the country the wait is only three months, the charity said infertility should be treated as an illness and given more priority.

A spokeswoman said: "The situation really needs to improve in the Lothians. As it stands, the cut-off age is 38, which means a woman has to be registering at 35 at the very latest. A lot of couples don't even realise they may require IVF treatment until their mid-30s."

Gwenda Burns will assume the role of co-ordinator.