Today, the Daily Mail ran a second article about alleged bad practice in the fertility sector. Please see Chief Executive, Peter Thompson’s letter to all Persons Responsible.
To all Persons Responsible
3 May 2017
Dear colleague
This week the Daily Mail is publishing a series of articles based on an investigation into practices at several fertility clinics.
These articles make a number of serious allegations which make uncomfortable reading for all who work in the sector. We are particularly concerned about any poor practice around egg sharing and egg donation. We always investigate any allegations, from whatever source, thoroughly and fairly, and will do so in this case. Where we find evidence that a clinic has broken the law or not complied with our Code of Practice, we will take immediate action.
Whether or not our investigations reveal any wrongdoing, the impression given by this and other recent reports is a poor one. It is not enough to reassure ourselves that it is only a minority as such allegations have a reputational impact on the sector as a whole. More importantly, they may undermine the confidence of patients.
At our recent annual conference, our Chair, Sally Cheshire, spoke about how she wished to see a step change in the quality of leadership across the sector for the benefit of patients. Good culture depends on more than following the rules, what matters is that all your members of staff demonstrate that culture in every interaction with patients.
Regulation alone cannot deliver high quality care every time. Leadership matters greatly and now is the time for some to step up. We will be reviewing our guidance over the coming months, particularly around the information and support you should give patients, and we will follow this up through inspection. If we are serious about high quality fertility care, we must act to reassure patients that their welfare is our priority.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Thompson
Chief Executive