This page provides information about Covid-19 and any developments affecting our fertility service. It was last reviewed and updated in November 2022.
Our services, including treatments, diagnostics and out-patient appointments, are currently unaffected so please continue to attend appointments and take medication as planned unless you are contacted by clinic staff advising you otherwise.
Background
In March 2020 fertility treatment across the country was ordered to stop until the extent of the current Covid-19 crisis was known. This was to help prevent the spread of the virus and protect the NHS. All treatment had to stop by 15th April 2020 at the very latest. On 1st May 2020 the Government announced that from 11th May 2020 fertility clinics could apply to reopen. Our application to the HFEA to restart treatments was successful and treatments restarted at the beginning of June 2020.
The safety of our patients and clinic staff remains a top priority and our previous processes have had to change so that we can provide a safe service for our patients and a safe working environment for our staff. Our regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and our national professional bodies British Fertility Society (BFS) and the Association of Reproductive Clinical Scientists (ARCS) have set out how they expect us to achieve this.
In the event of a further lockdown it is the clinic’s intention to continue treating patients unless we are told to stop either by our regulators the HFEA, our professional bodies or a decision made by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust.
Coronavirus – General Information
Corona viruses are a group of viruses that are common across the world. In December 2019 a novel (new) corona virus affecting people was identified and has quickly spread across the world. For most people corona virus causes a mild flu like-illness characterised by a persistent cough, fever and/or a loss of the sense of smell/taste but for others it can be a serious illness with shortness of breath and other complications that are unfortunately fatal in some people. The disease caused by the novel corona virus is called Covid-19. Other people infected by the virus have no symptoms at all (asymptomatic) but are still capable of passing the disease to others. There is lots of information available on corona virus, the symptoms and how you can avoid spreading the virus. Please see reputable sites such as:
Women who are currently pregnant may want to read the Royal College of Gynaecologists (RCOG) statement
Pregnancy and the COVID-19 Vaccination
Although there is no safety data for Covid-19 vaccinations, there is no known risk from other non-live vaccines in pregnant women. If you are offered a Covid-19 vaccine you should review the information available in order to make a decision. If you choose to have the Covid-19 vaccine this will not delay your treatment with us.
All women of child-bearing age are asked to read the GOV.UK Information prior to vaccination.
Other information you may wish to read is provided on the links below:
British Fertility Society: COVID-19 Vaccination – Addendum: ARCS-BFS Joint Working Group
British Fertility Society: COVID-19 Vaccination
RCOG Covid-19 Vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding FAQs
JCVI Issues New Advice on COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Women
Fertility Service delivered by Shropshire and Mid Wales Fertility Centre
For us to be able to deliver a safe service in these challenging times you will notice a number of changes to the way we operate. We have a small number of restrictions still in place to comply with the policies of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust. All are subject to change if the situation with Covid-19 changes.
It goes without saying that anyone with symptoms of the virus should not attend the fertility unit for any reason. For some, this may mean that their treatment cycle may be abandoned, postponed or interrupted. If this is the case we will endeavour to reschedule your treatment as soon as possible once you have fully recovered.
Patients are asked to sign a Code of Conduct promising not to attend the unit if symptomatic as this puts the service we deliver at risk.
Although the requirement to be swabbed and isolate prior to and during treatment is no longer mandatory, we strongly advise patients to limit their social contacts at these critical times, especially at times where the community transmission rate is high, to minimise the risk of Covid-19 disrupting their treatment.
Our waiting room is now open but please maintain a distance from others where you can. Please wash you hands on arrival and expect to be asked to wear a mask if that is in line with hospital policy. Please do not arrive more than 5 minutes before your appointment and wait in your vehicle if asked to do so.
Due to distancing and disinfection guidelines we are unfortunately still not able to see our “normal” numbers of patients and there may continue to be some delays to your treatment. Clinic staff are doing everything they can to get everyone seen as quickly and as safely as possible and we appreciate your patience.
Due to distancing guidelines it may not always be possible for your partner to accompany you into the scan room and this is at the discretion of the Sonographer. You partner will always be able to accompany you for embryo transfer so long as they do not have symptoms of Covid-19.
Out-patient appointments, where possible will continue to be done over the telephone or a new video calling service called “Attend Anywhere”. However, there are some appointments that will require you to come into the fertility department e.g. for a physical examination such as a scan or to sign paperwork. Please be aware that our staff will be wearing additional PPE to safeguard both themselves and our patients.
Embryo Storage
Previous patients should be assured that our team of Scientists were on site throughout the close-down period to ensure all embryos, eggs and sperm in storage are cared for in the same manner as they would be in normal circumstances. We have had enquiries about invoicing for their storage. Patients who were scheduled for a frozen transfer (FET or FBT) and have had it postponed due to the pandemic and who only have 1 or 2 embryos/blastocysts remaining in storage (i.e. would have used all of their remaining embryos in the postponed FET/FBT) will not be invoiced for embryo storage during the extra storage period incurred by the lockdown. Other patients will continue to be billed as normal.
Support and Counselling
If you feel you need additional support, please feel free to contact the nursing department on 01743 261202 option 2. We can arrange a telephone counselling appointment with our Specialist Fertility Counsellor if necessary. Counselling appointments continue to be available but all will be telephone or video appointments rather than face to face.
Please note that our face-to-face monthly support groups have been replaced by Virtual Groups organised by Fertility Network UK. Please see Fertility Network UK for further details on how to join in with the Zoom groups.
Monthly Patient Open Evening
Although face to face drop-in appointments have been suspended the open evening is now back up and running as telephone appointments. If you’d like a free, no obligation call from one of our professionals please email sth-tr.shropshireivf@nhs.net stating that you’d like an Open Evening appointment and ensuring you leave your telephone number. You need to be available between 6-8pm on the first Wednesday of the month for this call back. Please do not include any clinical or personal information in an email as your personal email address may not be secure.