Regional Fertility Centre
Joan Couhig
Administration & Quality Co-ordinator
Saturday 27 September 2014
Regional Fertility Centre
Got my first NHS appointment
at the Regional Fertility
Centre.........
................what happens now?
The Journey
Referral
First Consultation
Review Consultation
HFEA & Forms
Eligibility for NHS treatment
Timeframes
Starting Treatment
After Treatment
Patient Information & RFC website
Referral
From GP or other hospital clinic
 Reviewed by RFC doctor

(sufficient information?)
Trust Main Appointments Dept
Letter
Phone
Appointment
 Target – 9 weeks

RFC Outpatients Clinic
Grove Wellbeing Centre
120 York Road
Belfast
BT15 3HF
First Consultation
RFC Grove Outpatients
Both Partners attend
Administration form completed
Address & telephone contact details check
Photographic ID required ( HFEA)
Welfare of the Child questionnaire ( HFEA)
Consultation -history/discussion/investigations
Timeframes for Investigations
Investigations undertaken within RFC:
- Semen analysis
- 4 weeks
- Hormone blood tests - 4 weeks
- Testicular biopsy
- 4 weeks

Investigations undertaken outside RFC:
- day procedure, X-rays, scans

Review Consultation
RFC Grove Outpatients
When all investigations completed –
 Investigation results
 Treatment options
 Treatment decision/Further
investigations/Discharge
Name placed on list for treatment ( date on list)
HFEA

The HFEA licence & monitor fertility treatment
centres across the UK

Code of Practice – includes guidance/mandatory
requirements/legislative regulations

Requirements incorporated into RFC procedures
Welfare of the Child

Must take ‘account ...of the welfare of any
child who may be born as a result of the
treatment (including the need of that child
for supportive parenting), and of any other
child who may be affected by the birth

Welfare of the Child questionnaire
completed ( both partners) at time of first
consultation
Consent to Disclosure

For any patient identifying information to be
disclosed to anyone outside the RFC or
HFEA, the patient ( both partners) must
give consent.

Consent to Disclosure forms are completed
prior to commencing treatment
Treatments Provided by RFC
NHS funded treatments
Clomid therapy
Ovulation induction
IVF /ICSI
Treatment with donor sperm or eggs
Frozen Embryo Transfer
Criteria for
Funded
IVF/ICSI Treatment




Female under age 40 at time of treatment
BMI 35 or less
Medical reason for infertility
Female patient should have had no more than three
previous unsuccessful treatments (including frozen embryo
transfer)
1 IVF/ICSI cycle of treatment plus 1 Frozen embryo transfer
( for patients referred AFTER 1 April 2012)
Private Treatments Provided
by RFC
IVF
ICSI
Frozen Embryo Transfer
Patients can be on list for NHS funded
treatment while undergoing private treatment
Other services provided– EEVA, Endometrial scratch
Waiting for Treatment
Name placed on list for
treatment
Start treatment
Treatment planning
appointment
Start treatment
12 months
Organising Treatment




Letter of offer - patients are offered in
chronological order
Phone to accept
Appointments bookedScreening blood tests ( if applicable)
Pre-Treatment Consultation fertility nurse
Start Treatment
Blood screening
 Both
partners
 20 minute appointment
 HIV,Hepatitis B & C
 Female BMI check if required
Pre-Treatment Consultation







Fertility nurse
2 hours
Consent & contract forms signed
Treatment schedule planned
Medication collected
Instruction on administering medication
Information about the treatment
Timeframe
Letter of offer
Phone to accept
1-2 weeks
Blood screening
3 weeks
8-12 weeks
From letter to
Treatment
starts
Pre-Treatment Consult
2 weeks
Start Treatment
1 – 4 weeks
What if the date doesn’t
suit us?
Couple must
be available for 3 months
from next period
Not available? -Don’t accept offer
Can suspend place on list for
up to 3 months
Can’t accept offer?
Unable to accept offer?
eg, pregnant
Congratulations


Patient informed if treatment required in
future - new referral
GP informed
After Treatment
Treatment successful

Treatment Outcome form ( HFEA)
Pregnancy scan appointment ( 5 weeks after
embryo transfer)

Pregnancy outcome details ( HFEA)
After Treatment
If treatment is unfortunately unsuccessful Treatment outcome form (HFEA)
 Review consultation appointment
-what happened in treatment
-options for further treatment
Timeframe – 12 weeks
( from form received)
Fertility Counselling Service



Available to patients before, during & after
treatment
Patients can book appointment with
counsellor directly
Some treatment options require counselling
(HFEA)
Patient Information
RFC Website –
Information for patients on:
how to arrange consultation,
investigations,
treatments & services
useful information on other websites
Information for clinicians on how
to refer patient
www.rfc.hscni.net
Patient Information
At Consultation
Specific investigation/treatment info
Treatment Offer & appointment letters
Forms & appointment info
Pre – Treatment Consultation
Specific treatment plan info
Contacting RFC
NEW phone system
Live from 1st October
028 9063 5888
Option 1 – Administration team
Queuing information system
Keep us informed
Inform us if you ….
Move house
or
Change your phone number