{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2Fd556bdcd-492e-43c2-9b4e-9e1da347c0d8","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"How to choose a fertility clinic","description":"Earlier in June, a hugely important review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was published. This review produced guidance to help fertility clinics comply with their consumer law obligations but also provides guidance for you when considering purchasing IVF treatment. The word \u2018purchasing\u2019 there is massively significant because as well as being a patient, you are also a consumer and it\u2019s very likely that you haven\u2019t thought about fertility treatments in that way. It\u2019s important that fertility clinics are fair and that you know your rights when it comes to consumer law.\r\n \r\nIn this episode, we\u2019re delighted to talk to two guests who have been actively involved in assisting the CMA in producing this guidance \u2013 Clare Ettinhauser Director of Strategy and Corporate Affairs at the HFEA, and Patient Advocate and founder of @uberbarrensclub - Katy Linderman. Later we\u2019re also joined by the chair of the British Fertility Society, consultant gynecologist Raj Mathur, to share his views on the CMA review.\r\n \r\nWhilst we had Clare with us, we also asked her how best for women and couples to go about choosing a fertility clinic. Clare recommends checking out the Choose A Clinic function on the HFEA website. Kate uses this with her patients and finds it super useful in narrowing down your choices and finding the best clinic for you. She also mentioned paying attention to the individual clinics Live Birth rates on the HFEA website, these are collated and ratified by the HFEA every 2 years but are unlikely to differ very much in that time. Clare also talked about the benefits of attending, either in person or virtually, clinic open days.\r\n \r\nNow on to the CMA review: Katy worked as a patient advisor to the CMA and it\u2019s really obvious from reading the review that the patients\u2019 best interests are at the center of every aspect. Katy talked about the need for patients to have accurate and timely information to help them make the right treatment choices and that there is a lot of work clinics need to do to adhere to this new guidance.\r\n \r\nHere is what you should now expect to fully understand when choosing a clinic and treatments:\r\n - a) Details about what the consultation consists of;(b) The cost of the consultation and any diagnostic tests and scans;\r\n - (c) The possibility that additional diagnostic tests, and costs, maybe necessary once the results of the first tests are known;\r\n - (d) Whether the results of any tests and scans already undertaken will be accepted; and\r\n - (e) Details of any cancellation charges if they fail to attend the consultation appointment.\r\nClaire talked about the HFEA\u2019s involvement with the CMA review. Sadly, currently, the HFEA does not have any legal powers to ensure that clinics follow and adhere to the CMA guidance. We asked her if the HFEA had received any feedback from clinics since the review was published. As yet they have not but this is probably because clinics have been aware for some time that this review was happening, and that the guidance would be published.\r\n \r\nAs well as publishing information for clinics, the CMA has provided guidance for patients too. This also includes an informative video voiced by Lorraine Kelly and we urge you to watch this to understand your rights. Katy talks about the need to clinics to take considered action and make the legally required changes to their website, brochures, and any patient information so that there is treatment price transparency (among many of the other requirements) and a good understanding of what is and isn\u2019t included, from the outset.\r\n \r\nKaty also states that it is your legal right to have access to this information and if it\u2019s not there, be your own advocate and persist in asking for it. By having this information you\u2019ll feel more empowered on your fertility journey.\r\n \r\nNext up we get Raj\u2019s clinical opinion on the CMA guidance. He starts by stating that the British Fertility Society welcomes this guidance, and he is pl...","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/50a87da0-d037-4d77-ab45-0a9145ef5e62/cover-image-kqnmrjc1-thefertpod.png"}