Proposed changes to fertility treatment policies in Cheshire and Merseyside

About

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) launched a six-week public consultation on proposed changes to local fertility treatment policies, which ran from 3 June to 15 July 2025. 

Currently, there are ten NHS subfertility policies being used across Cheshire and Merseyside, which means that people have varying access to NHS-funded fertility treatment, depending on where they live. 

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside proposed a new, single policy, which would mean that in the future everyone would get consistent access to fertility treatment in our area.

The new policy includes a number of changes that would remove variation, and ensure local practice is in line with national guidance, but we are also proposing to make some changes for financial reasons. 

You can find out more about what was proposed in this consultation summary booklet.

Decision made on proposed changes to fertility treatment policies in Cheshire and Merseyside

Following this recent public consultation, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) approved a proposal to introduce a single subfertility policy for Cheshire and Merseyside.

The decision was taken at the ICB’s Board meeting, which took place in public on Thursday 27 November. You can find further details of the meeting here.

Click here for more information about that decision, including the next steps for patients who may be affected.

Public consultation

This consultation has now closed, but you can find more information about what happened during this process below.

People could fill out a short online questionnaire to share their views on the proposal.

Contact details were also provided so that people could request help to complete the questionnaire, or to request a printed version or an alternative format or language.

A report on the feedback we received can be found below, along with supporting information.

Communications toolkit 

Partner organisations were asked to help promote the consultation as widely as possible using this communications toolkit.

Community groups or networks could also contact us to request that NHS Cheshire and Merseyside attend a meeting or event to talk about the proposal.

Further supporting information

Read the new (draft) fertility policy in full.

You can view the ten existing local subfertility policies here. 

Find an Easy Read booklet containing information about the proposed changes here.

You can also read answers to frequently asked questions here.