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21.01.19
19 The Connétable of St. Martin of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding
the Assisted Reproduction Unit (OQ.9/2021):
Will the Minister update the Assembly on how the proposed changes to the Assisted Reproduction Unit are progressing; will he assure members that there will be no interruption to patient treatments or services during any transition period and, if he cannot make such an assurance, will the Minister explain why?
The following response was provided in writing in accordance with Standing Order 63(9) as the oral question was not asked before the end of the time allowed for Oral Questions:
The service within the Assisted Reproduction Unit continues to be delivered on the Overdale site. The Doctor currently overseeing the service is with us until the end of January, but I can assure members that there are robust plans in place to ensure all current services will continue pending successful recruitment of a successor in the consultant's post. We are advertising presently. Interim consultant cover is in place. Much of the service is already nurse-led.
Each patient within the service will be offered an individual care review as part of the handover process with the team.
We are reviewing the service provision, especially to improve access and eligibility for treatment, along with the workforce required to deliver a modern Assisted Reproductive Service, exploring how we may be able to use digital services to supplement and enhance patient care and their overall experience.
We continue to work with users of the service and UK providers to assist in shaping services and we recently welcomed a very experienced Specialist Nurse to the team.
There may, however, be some disruption to service provision that is outside our control. We have been made aware that a number of UK providers are reducing their fertility service provision on the mainland as a result of the high levels of covid infection and the significant impact that is having in relation to travel and staff availability. At the time of writing, the off-island services that we access are still available to us, but I need to make Members aware that this may not remain the case.