Written question WQ89849

Any provider of IVF services has to be licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The Wales Fertility Institute was visited by the HFEA in January 2023. A number of quality concerns were raised as a result of that visit. For the Wales Fertility Institute to continue to meet the HFEA licensing requirements, the Institute has to be able to appoint a Person Responsible. It also has to be able to respond to the quality issues that were raised by the HFEA during that visit.

WHSSC informed Welsh Government of the need to place the Wales Fertility Institute into their escalation level 3 in August 2023 and to raise the escalation level to level four in November 2023. WHSSC and Swansea Bay University health board have been working with the institute to address the issues that were identified in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority report, and to identify a suitable Person Responsible. Difficulty addressing these issues has resulted in an increase in the escalation level.

WHSSC have a formal escalation policy in place which they have been following. The policy outlines both escalation and de-escalation. It would not be appropriate for Welsh Government to intervene to request de-escalation of a service if the areas of concern had not been addressed. This is especially the case where the areas of concern relate to licensing requirements of a licensing authority.