Improved fertility clinic launched in Exeter
Couples across the South West now have access to improved fertility services to help them achieve their dreams of starting a family thanks to the re-launch of an Exeter clinic.
Fertility Exeter combines the high quality NHS fertility services provided by the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) with the self-funded treatment provided by the independent Peninsular Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM).
The RD&E took over the successful PCRM clinic in June 2014, and has since undertaken extensive work to unify the two services. In recognition of this, the newly-combined clinic has recently undergone a comprehensive rebrand to reflect the professional, caring and seamless service it provides.
The service now offers patients a single pathway of care from their initial consultation through diagnostics, planning, counselling, and treatment. If further self-funded treatment is required then patients can continue to attend the clinic, with the added benefit of access to the same experienced fertility specialists in familiar and convenient surroundings. Any surplus generated from the self-funded side of the clinic will directed back into the Trust.
Exeter Fertility is underpinned by the RD&E’s expertise and experience in providing high quality and safe care for patients, but is still small enough to offer a friendly and personal service.
Key to the clinic’s appeal is that couples do not have to travel further a-field for fertility treatment. Patients can receive top quality care locally, and do not have to make regular trips to London or Bristol for hospital visits. Fertility Exeter also has a satellite clinic in Cornwall so patients can attend some of their initial appointments and scans even closer to home if required.
Along with an excellent track record of providing successful fertility services for over 20 years, Fertility Exeter is at the forefront of fertility treatment innovation. In conjunction with the Genetics service, the clinic has recently been selected as a satellite centre for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust’s Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) programme for patients who are at risk of having a child with a specific genetic or chromosome disorder, such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease or Huntington's disease.
Lisa Joels, Consultant Gynaecologist and Clinical Lead for Fertility Services at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The launch of Exeter Fertility is a really exciting moment for us. It’s been an opportunity bring two teams together and to build on past successes in order to take the newly combined fertility clinic forward with exciting new services and developments. I am so proud of the unified team who, in addition to excellent skills, bring a very human, caring element to couples experiencing fertility problems. At Fertility Exeter we will continue to focus on providing clinically excellent services combined with compassion and empathy to provide a holistic approach to our patients.”
For more information about Fertility Exeter please visit the new website at www.fertilityexeter.co.uk
