Cutting the costs of fertility treatment

cannyscot_2

We went to St james's leeds and on advice of nurse there got appointment at Bupa with consultant paid for that then got referral for self funding -just paying NHS cost -not an option everywhere plus GP offered to pay drugs -quite a while ago so things might have changed.


Worth talking to people ie nurses receptionists in various clinics -I just kept calling round till I got all the info i could.

PS You are doing the right thing stick in -action while you are younger pays it's not worth the risk to leave it and wait for the NHS I have watched a friend make that mistake and get no child andwatched others sell their home and work like a trouper to pay private costs and be successful.

tilla66

Hi i'm not sure how to start a new thread so hope someone may find this on this old thread.

Anyway, another way to reduce the cost of your drugs is to get them directly from the drug company rather than a pharmacist who will charge his own price on top of the cost of drugs to make himself a profit which is why different pharmacies have different prices.

You just contact the company with your prescription, usually a private prescription, and they send them out to you.

One such company who makes the drug Gonal-F, the follile stimulating drug and the most expensive of any treatment, is SERONO.

For those whose GP has refused to fund the drugs obtaining the expensive drugs cheaper from the drug company may mean that you could approach him again about the other drugs which cost much less for example the sniffer costs approx £80 and the progesterone approx £40, which he may be happier to fund, every little bit helps.

Good luck.

becky004

drowningnotwaving wrote: »

I know that I cannot cut my clinic costs (except by going to another clinic or egg-sharing which neither of us want to do) but I was wondering whether anyone knows how I can cut the cost of the drugs involved.

I took my private prescription to Boots and nearly fainted at the cost they quoted.
I then took my prescription to my GP who issued me with an NHS prescription for the drugs. I had 12 cycles of treatment in total so the saving was huge!!

Jonbvn

Thank you for reviving this old thread. We just purchased the necessary drugs at our local pharmacy and they cost just over GBP1,110:eek:

If we are unsuccessful this time, we will try and see if our GP will write an NHS prescription for us. If he refuses, will try going to the drug companies direct.

We're quite new to all this. We understand that some of the drugs are self administered with injection. Is this normal?

pinky8

Hi,

How do you find out if you can get IVF on the NHS?

Good luck with your IVF

Pinky8 xxx

BusyLizzie_3

pinky8 wrote: »

How do you find out if you can get IVF on the NHS?

Probably best to make an appointment to see your GP, who should be able to advise you about availability of IVF funding on the NHS in your area. Have you already had some preliminary tests and know that you're likely to need IVF?

the_devil_made_me_do_it

pinky8 wrote: »

Hi,

How do you find out if you can get IVF on the NHS?

Good luck with your IVF

Pinky8 xxx

My GP didn't have a clue, so referred me to a gynecologist. I guess they must be the one who makes the descion and not the GP

Tashja

pinky8 wrote: »

Hi,

How do you find out if you can get IVF on the NHS?

Good luck with your IVF

Pinky8 xxx

Sorry Disagreeing with everyone here

You will need to contact your local Primary Care Trust or PALS Serviice and they will be able to tell you the criteria for treatment in your area and the length of waiting lists.

For more information you can look on https://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk

Some things that might exempt you from a free go are age, if either you or your partner have any children (i.e. if your DH has kids even if they are not with you) or if your DH has had a vasectomy.

There is also information on the above website of how to appeal to your PCT if they decline you for your free go.

Hope this helps.

If I can be of any more help please feel free to PM me

T xx

tilla66

Hi, yes it is normal to self administer your own drugs. usually first by a sniffer up your nose then by injection, the most modern form is as a pen, like a diabetic pen. The needle is very small and thin and you will easily be able to do this once initially shown. You're free then to do this in your own environment which when you've got enough hospital visits and stress with the rest of treatment I'm sure is very welcome.

Good luck and keep positive, a positive frame of mind can go a long way.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Tashja wrote: »

Sorry Disagreeing with everyone here

You will need to contact your local Primary Care Trust or PALS Serviice and they will be able to tell you the criteria for treatment in your area and the length of waiting lists.

For more information you can look on https://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk

Some things that might exempt you from a free go are age, if either you or your partner have any children (i.e. if your DH has kids even if they are not with you) or if your DH has had a vasectomy.

There is also information on the above website of how to appeal to your PCT if they decline you for your free go.

Hope this helps.

If I can be of any more help please feel free to PM me

T xx

I contacted my local PCT/PALS service and they were pretty useless. They said they couldn't offer advice on whether or not I would receive funded treatment and that I would need to make an appointment with my GP.

I've seen the GP who didn't have a clue either, so referred me to a gynecologist.

I've basically had the run around all year by PCT and GP. A year has been wasted and time is moving on for me. I'm just hoping my gynecologist appointment isn't a waste of time too :rolleyes: