NHS's infertility 'overspend'

A REPORT into infertility treatment in Scotland has criticised NHS Lothian for overspending to the tune of nearly £50,000.

Infertility Network Scotland said the money could have instead been invested in a further 15 cycles of IVF treatment for patients.

They said the health board applied a funding formula usually set aside for private healthcare, and if the national NHS cost had been used, 44,000 would have been saved.

A spokesman for the Infertility Network said: "This interim report is based on meetings and other communications with health boards and clinics in Scotland."

NHS Lothian recently invested 300,000 in a bid to make IVF treatment more widely available and reduce the waiting time from three years.