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26/03/2009
Fertility Treatment Gets Major Cash Boost
Extra funding for specialised fertility treatment is expected to lead to waiting times for NI patients to be cut dramatically.
Those due to begin IVF treatment will soon see a reduction from 18 months to one year maximum waiting, with the aim being to allow more than one 'cycle' of treatment as soon as funds become available.
NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey announced the £1.5million of extra funding annually for publicly funded fertility treatment.
This follows a one off investment of £800,000 in recent months to reduce waiting times.
"Current funding has provided for over 400 cycles of treatment per year. However, demand has been well in excess of this figure," he said.
"The extra recurrent funding I am providing will ensure that, going forward, no-one who qualifies for publicly funded treatment will have a waiting time of longer than a year, and should allow a move towards increasing the number of cycles of treatment.
"The service will also move to one regional waiting list ensuring equality of access to all Northern Ireland residents," he said.
The Minister's announcement follows a review of the current criteria for publicly funded fertility treatment carried out by a group made up of clinicians, patient representatives and the Department.
(BMcC/JM)
Those due to begin IVF treatment will soon see a reduction from 18 months to one year maximum waiting, with the aim being to allow more than one 'cycle' of treatment as soon as funds become available.
NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey announced the £1.5million of extra funding annually for publicly funded fertility treatment.
This follows a one off investment of £800,000 in recent months to reduce waiting times.
"Current funding has provided for over 400 cycles of treatment per year. However, demand has been well in excess of this figure," he said.
"The extra recurrent funding I am providing will ensure that, going forward, no-one who qualifies for publicly funded treatment will have a waiting time of longer than a year, and should allow a move towards increasing the number of cycles of treatment.
"The service will also move to one regional waiting list ensuring equality of access to all Northern Ireland residents," he said.
The Minister's announcement follows a review of the current criteria for publicly funded fertility treatment carried out by a group made up of clinicians, patient representatives and the Department.
(BMcC/JM)
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Age for fertility treatment rises
Health Minister Paul Goggins has today announced changes to the criteria that allows couples to access publicly funded fertility services in Northern Ireland. The announcement follows the findings of a consultation exercise about the future of publicly funded fertility services in Northern Ireland.
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30 March 2023
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The Executive must be restored to address "unacceptable" cancer treatment waiting times, Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has said. Making the call, Sinn Féin's health spokesperson, Linda Dillon, said: "Growing waiting times for life-saving cancer treatment are deeply concerning and again highlight the need for urgent action to support patients.
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The Executive must be restored to address "unacceptable" cancer treatment waiting times, Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has said. Making the call, Sinn Féin's health spokesperson, Linda Dillon, said: "Growing waiting times for life-saving cancer treatment are deeply concerning and again highlight the need for urgent action to support patients.
26 September 2019
Rise In Uptake Of Drug & Alcohol Treatment Services
The number of people receiving treatment for drug and alcohol abuse in Northern Ireland has grown, a recent census has shown. Some 6,743 people were in active treatment in April 2019, for either drug or alcohol abuse or both. This represents a rise in clients from 5,969 in the 2017 census.
Rise In Uptake Of Drug & Alcohol Treatment Services
The number of people receiving treatment for drug and alcohol abuse in Northern Ireland has grown, a recent census has shown. Some 6,743 people were in active treatment in April 2019, for either drug or alcohol abuse or both. This represents a rise in clients from 5,969 in the 2017 census.
27 August 2004
Commissioning work begins at water treatment facility
The Water Service has begun commissioning works on its £20m water treatment plant in Co Down. The largest water treatment facility to be built to date in Northern Ireland, the three-month commissioning period will involve rigorous testing of all the state-of-the-art systems at Drumaroad, near Castlewellan.
Commissioning work begins at water treatment facility
The Water Service has begun commissioning works on its £20m water treatment plant in Co Down. The largest water treatment facility to be built to date in Northern Ireland, the three-month commissioning period will involve rigorous testing of all the state-of-the-art systems at Drumaroad, near Castlewellan.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
