Bounty

In a bid to counter claims there is a "postcode lottery" in terms of fertility treatment on the NHS a health board has spent £300,000 to improve services.

The funding will go towards cutting waiting times, with 12-month reductions in some cases, say NHS Lothian.

According to figures published by Labour, the longest wait for treatment in Scotland occurred for couples in Lothian where there was an average three-year wait for treatment, it emerged last year.

To ensure increased access for couples beginning infertility treatment, new guidelines have been drawn up by the board.

Women up to the age of 40 will now be offered treatment by NHS Lothian, an extension of the age limit by two years.

Dr David Farquharson, clinical director of Women's Services, said: "We are confident this new funding and the introduction of new treatment guidelines will increase access for scores of women across Lothian.

"We are committed to ensuring that as wide a range of women as possible can undergo treatment with shorter waiting times."

Patients will undergo a maximum of two rounds of treatment and each round will normally commence with a fresh cycle.

Women should be non-smokers and have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 - down from 34. They can be referred to appropriate support services to help them meet the criteria.