THE IVF postcode lottery in south Essex is finally coming to an end, with residents across Basildon, Southend and Canvey set to be offered two full cycles for free by the NHS.

The Mid and South Essex integrated health board (ICB) has confirmed that from April 1 all patients who meet the NHS criteria will get one fresh cycle of IVF and one frozen embryo transfer.

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The ICB, formed earlier this year to replace clinical commissioning groups, has made the decision in a bid to provide residents from across its patch - which includes Basildon, Thurrock, Canvey and Southend - with “the same access” to IVF.

Currently, people living in the commissioning areas of Basildon, Brentwood and Mid Essex can not access IVF services on the NHS, but potential parents in Southend and Castle Point both get two free rounds of IVF.

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Katy Ovenden, from Wickford, and her husband Leigh were among those affected by the lottery.

The couple were not eligible for NHS-funded IVF treatment when they moved to a house in Essex five miles up the road from their previous one.

“Ironically, we had moved house just a few months before from Rayleigh where we would have been entitled to two rounds of NHS-funded IVF,” said Katy.

“It seemed so unfair.”

The couple won’t benefit from the news themselves, as they had self-funded treatment at Bourn Hall that worked first time, but she is delighted with the news.

She added: “Wow, this is amazing news.

“This is going to be so positive for a lot of people.”

The cost of private IVF treatment varies across clinics and locations, but in most cases will range between £1,500 and £5,000 per cycle.

Under the plans, patients in south Essex will only require two years of unexplained infertility to be considered for IVF, down from three years.

Where the partner receiving IVF is aged 40-42, the required period of unexplained infertility would be just one year.

The revamp of rules will also mean same-sex couples will be considered if six cycles of privately funded have been unsuccessful.

Professor Mike Thorne, chairman of mid and south Essex ICB said: “We have now harmonised those policies. Can I thank all the clinicians that have been involved in this quite large piece of work that started its journey last February.

“It has been done very thoroughly. I am sure those people who will benefit from  the enhanced availabilities of these various policies will be very grateful indeed.”