Collaborative Statement from IVF clinics in relation to the national lockdown (updated 03rd November 2020)
We welcome yesterday’s statement from the HFEA that fertility clinics can remain open during the new lockdown. We wish to reassure our patients that they are able to continue with their treatment in a safe environment at this anxious and difficult time.
Fertility clinics in the UK have made every effort to be Covid secure, implementing extensive measures to protect patients and staff according to national guidelines. All our clinics have carried out risk assessments and adopted tailored strategies and procedures for treating patients during the pandemic, including compliance with social distancing requirements and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
We note that the HFEA has recommended consideration of a ‘freeze all’ approach to higher risk patients. This was already a factor in our strategies and will remain an option going forwards where appropriate.
We will continue to monitor the situation at our clinics and have established a committee which will meet regularly throughout the period of the lockdown to keep the evolving situation under regular review and make recommendations about any additional steps that may be required.
This is a joint statement from more than 60 licensed and satellites clinics which have joined forces to work together in exchanging their experience to ensure that safe practices are communicated and shared amongst all colleagues for the safety of patients and staff.
Signed by:
Mohamed Taranissi
Geoffrey Trew
David Burford
Mike Macnamee
Jonathan Koslover
Jude Fleming
(on behalf of FERTILIS: ARGC- Assisted Reproduction & Gynaecology Centre, London Fertility Centre, Reproductive Genetic Institute, NewLife Fertility, Oxford Fertility. GCRM, Nurture, Boston Place, Belfast Fertility, Simply Fertility, Thames Valley Fertility, Wessex Fertility, Care Bath, Care Chester, Care Birmingham, Care Tamworth, Care Grantham, Care London, Care Manchester, Care Northampton, Care Nottingham, Care Sheffield, Care Tunbridge Wells, Bourn Hall Clinic, Bourn Hall Colchester, Bourn Hall Norwich, Bourn Hall Wickford, Manchester Fertility)
Kamal Ahuja
Nick Macklon
(on behalf of LWC London, LWC Darlington, LWC Kent, LWC London Bridge, LWC Wales)
Amin Gorgy
(on behalf of Fertility & Gynaecology Academy)
Enda McVeigh
(University of Oxford / OXRM)
Luciano Nardo
Karen Schnauffer
(on behalf of Reproductive Health Group)
When can you start treatment?
Whether you are already an existing patient or a new patient, please get in touch with us via telephone, 0207 486 1230 (current patients) or 0207 486 1779 (new patients) or by email: info@argc.co.uk, and our team can help guide you through the process. We look forward to hearing from you.
If you are a new patient, you can start your treatment journey by filling out our registration form.
What are we doing?
Since our reopening in May, the team at ARGC have taken a range of measures to keep you safe from COVID-19 during this time. We have successfully been carrying out ALL treatment cycles in an COVID-19 secure environment, following the latest UK Government guidelines
Consultations via Zoom (video) and telephone:
We’re offering all of our new patient and follow-up consultations either via Zoom (video) or by telephone to reduce the number of in-person visits to the clinic.
Preparing to visit the clinic:
Before visiting the clinic, please make sure that you’ve completed the Self-Assessment form. This is required before your visit.
If your circumstances change and you start to experience any of the known COVID-19 symptoms, please do not attend your appointment and notify us as soon as possible.
Bringing partners and loved ones:
Unfortunately, we’ve made the difficult decision to only allow the person undergoing treatment to enter the clinic, apart from required clinical visits. While we understand this may be a hard decision, this is to reduce the number of people in the building and help keep you safe.
At the clinic:
When arriving at the clinic, you’ll be greeted by one of our friendly nurses who will take your temperature, ask you about any symptoms you may have, and request that you wash your hands before checking you in. While moving about the clinic, we kindly request that you adhere to the UK Government advice for social distancing, by keeping a distance of two meters where possible. Additionally, hand-sanitiser is available in the clinic for your use.
Face Masks:
We also kindly ask that masks be worn when attending your appointment.
