NHS-funded IVF treatment in South Yorkshire will be reduced from two cycles to one after regional health leaders approved a controversial cost-saving measure aimed at delivering what they describe as “best value for money” in a worsening financial climate. The South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) confirmed the decision despite strong objections from local councillors, MPs, and campaigners who warned the move would deepen the emotional and financial strain on families struggling with infertility.
The ICB confirmed that new patients will now be offered only one NHS-funded IVF cycle, bringing the region into line with many other ICBs in England. Interim chief executive Chris Edwards admitted the change was an “extremely tough choice” but insisted the board had to balance fertility provision with wider pressures across the health system. The majority of Doncaster councillors opposed the proposal during consultation, describing the cut as “shocking” and “unfair,” especially for couples who statistically have a lower chance of success on the first attempt.
Impact on Families and Mental Health Concerns
IVF is a treatment that helped bring more than 20,000 babies into the UK last year—roughly one child per school classroom—according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. But the reduction in South Yorkshire is expected to save the NHS around £400,000 a year. The board’s own report warned the change could push more pressure onto mental health services, noting that unsuccessful fertility treatment often leads to long-term emotional and psychological distress.
Councillor Gemma Cobby said the consequences would be “heart-breaking,” stressing that the full impact on couples may not be immediately visible. Fellow councillor Jane Cox criticised the decision as “dreadfully unfair,” arguing that many people do not achieve pregnancy after a single cycle and that removing a second attempt strips away vital hope for those who cannot afford private care.
Councils and MPs Voice Strong Objections
Doncaster and Sheffield councils, along with several MPs, argued that reducing access to fertility treatment disproportionately affects younger families and undermines national guidance encouraging equitable access to IVF. Campaigners also noted the UK already faces one of the most unequal fertility landscapes in Europe, with access heavily dependent on postcode.
ICB Defends Decision as Financial Pressures Deepen
Following the vote, Mr Edwards said the board acknowledged the importance of IVF to affected families but emphasised the need to allocate resources across a population facing rising demand in areas including urgent care, cancer services, and mental health. Existing IVF patients will not be affected, and clinicians will still be able to submit individual funding requests in exceptional circumstances.
NHS England has urged ICBs to make “financially sustainable choices” as deficits widen across the health service. Several regions have already tightened fertility access over the past two years as budgets come under strain from rising treatment costs, workforce pressures, and increased waiting lists. Campaign groups continue to call for national standardisation to end the “postcode lottery” of IVF treatment.
