AROUND 80 couples will be denied IVF treatment at the Liverpool Women’s hospital after a decision was made to stop its funding.

Patients from Warrington would normally undergo the practice at the Crown Street building, but the Warrington PCT’s board yesterday decided to suspend the service’s funding for up to a year.

During the PCT’s review the first services to be reassessed were those which were deemed to be expensive, involving a low number of people, and which did not match thePCT’s priorities.

Vitro fertilisation (IVF) was included in the list.

The PCT said it will consider applications from GPs for “exceptional treatment” approval where they believe there is an extraordinary clinical need.

People with fertility problems would still be treated and guided, it added.

Dr Andrew Davies, chair of NHS Warrington’s Clinical Leadership team, said: “We do understand that this decision will be very distressing for those who were hoping to begin IVF this year; this decision was not taken lightly.

“However, the PCT must focus rigorously on the health of the people of Warrington and on the need to maintain financial stability while providing high- quality local healthcare.

“It believes that the introduction of interim measures such as this one will help achieve that goal.”