Dr Lynda Scott
National Health Spokeswoman

22 April 2004

Mother's Day a tough time for childless couples

National's Health spokeswoman, Dr Lynda Scott, is calling on the Government to give an early Mother's Day gift to childless couples struggling to get fertility treatment.

One in six couples experience infertility and, despite Government promises for extra funding, those struggling to conceive are still getting only one cycle of In Vitro Fertilisation.

Dr Scott says that as Mother's Day approaches many women and their partners are reminded of the children they can't have.

"The Government's empty promises are putting peoples lives on hold as they wait for the chance to have a child.

"The current policy is stacking the odds against successful conception as there is only a 35% chance per cycle of conceiving.

"The majority of people for whom the first round doesn't work, and who can't afford the second round, are forced to give up their dreams of parenthood.

"Many are even moving to Australia, where unlimited publicly funded cycles are possible.

"Mother's Day is a tough time for childless couples and it is high time the Health Minister delivered on her promise to fund a second cycle of IVF to help fulfil the dreams of many couples," says Dr Scott.

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