Fertility patients have treatment 'paused' because of staff absence

Patients starting new fertility treatments at Neath Port Talbot Hospital are facing delays of "at least" four weeks.

Swansea Bay University Health board has written to patients due to begin treatment to tell them that new treatments have been put on "pause" because of "absence within key areas of our workforce".

One patient, who wanted to remain anonymous, said it was "very upsetting" to be told of the delay "within days" of planned treatment.

"The IVF process is an incredibly emotional and time-sensitive process, and patients like us here in Wales should not have been put in this position," they said.

The health board apologised and said patients already undergoing treatment were unaffected.

The four week "pause" in new treatments was announced on the health board's website on 28 August, in a statement that said it had written to all patients "clarifying their status".

It said that there were "no safety related issues" but that the centre was "currently unable to meet the regulatory requirements needed to start new treatments, due to absence within key areas of the workforce".

It also added there would be "no impact on gametes and embryos in storage".

A health board spokesperson said it recognised how "upsetting" the delay was for patients as well as the "additional stress" caused, but wanted to reassure them it was doing "everything possible" to resume the service.

"We are hopeful the temporary pause will not extend beyond the estimated four weeks and patients will be updated as soon as we have more news to share," the spokesperson said.

"It is worth being clear that while the pause relates to those who haven't yet started their treatment, it does not affect those who are part way through - their treatment will continue in the usual way."