A DAMNING report has criticised health officials in Warrington for refusing to provide IVF treatment on the NHS.

The study, from a cross-party group of MPs, found many primary care trusts had placed strict restrictions on who was eligible for the procedure, resulting in a postcode lottery of care.

Five Primary Care Trusts, including Warrington, do not offer it at all, as the Daily Post revealed last August.

Guidelines state three cycles of the fertility treatment should be offered when the woman is aged 23 to 39. The report shows 73% of NHS trusts are failing to follow the guidance.

A spokeswoman for Warrington PCT said the decision would be looked at again in July. Despite repeated Government reminders on the issue, the guidelines were never fully implemented across the NHS.

Freedom of Information results for 152 PCTs found many also had strict criteria on age, weight, smoking status of the couple and restrictions on IVF if one partner already had a child, regardless of whether they had contact with them.