PROSPECTIVE parents hoping to conceive through IVF will soon no longer be able to get the service at Southmead Hospital.

Thousands of babies have been born as a result of treatment at the Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine (BCRM), which joined North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) in 2008, but the decision has been made to end the service at the hospital.

As a result, the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) for South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset have begun the search for a suitable provider to take over the IVF treatment from the trust.

An NBT spokesman said that following a review of treatment, the provision of licensed fertility services such as IVF would end, citing a reduction in the number of NHS patients receiving treatment since BCRM joined NBT, with more couples now self-funding the treatment.

The spokesman added that planning is underway to ensure the transfer of care to a new provider, or providers “happens as smoothly as possible”.

It had been reported elsewhere that the service would be ending entirely, but South Gloucestershire CCG has confirmed that they will recommission the service elsewhere, and that a new provider would be confirmed in the autumn.

A spokesman for the CCG said: “Licensed fertility services for NHS and self-funded patients will continue to be provided by NBT until the end of November and plans are in place to ensure a smooth transfer of care to a new provider or providers after this date.

“We are committed to the ongoing provision of licensed fertility services for NHS patients and have begun the process of recommissioning a provider to take over from North Bristol Trust.

“Patients have notified of developments and further information is available on the CCG’s websites and the website of the Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine.”