In Prime Minister’s Questions today Jarrow MP Kate Osborne called out the Government for failing to keep their promise and change laws that discriminate against same sex couples seeking fertility treatment.
Back in October 2023, Osborne led a debate on IVF provision, raising discriminatory policies, a postcode lottery in provision, couples spending tens of thousands on treatment and many other issues with Government policies and Nice guidelines.
Osborne asked:
“This week marks the fifth lesbian visibility week founded by my good friend, publisher of DIVA magazine, Linda Riley.
“This comes at a time when LGBTQIA+ women are being failed by this Govt – and nowhere more so than by their failure to remove the financial burdens that same sex couples face when accessing IVF.
“My constituents Holly and Leanne like so many others have been priced out of having a family.
“So will the Deputy Prime Minister commit to finally ending this ‘gay tax’
Following her question Kate Osborne MP stated:
“It is absolutely unacceptable that despite promising 6 months ago to remove screening costs and all additional financial barriers in fertility treatment for same-sex couples – there are still couples like my constituents Holly and Leanne who are priced out of IVF, sacrificing saving up for a deposit on a house in order to pay for treatment.
“Since my debate last year, I have written to the Minister twice asking for further information and raised it at the Women and Equalities Committee. The Minister promised a timetable for action and that the NHS would start to make changes – yet nothing has happened and not one of the 42 ICB’s have made any changes to their fertility provision.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s response offered no hope to the thousands of women who cannot afford to wait any longer before starting a family.”
Holly, a constituent of Kate Osborne MP from Hebburn said:
“I’m really pleased that what is happening to me and thousands of others in the UK has been raised by Kate Osborne MP in Parliament today. We need this Government to remove all the additional financial barriers that we are facing before it is too late for many women – we shouldn’t have to sacrifice the dream of owning our own home to start a family. We should be given the same opportunities as straight couples and I’m glad Kate as my MP is fighting for this.”
Notes:
Link to full video & Kate’s social media post on this: https://x.com/KateOsborneMP/status/1783102183505805794
Kate’s work on IVF equality:
https://x.com/KateOsborneMP/status/1729882977222684684
https://x.com/KateOsborneMP/status/1716810906628137257
https://x.com/KateOsborneMP/status/1717170246690205720
https://x.com/KateOsborneMP/status/1716534016759709827
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/health/kate-osborne-lgbtq-ivf-families-27972978