Scotland reviews NHS IVF access for single women

The Scottish government has initiated a national review regarding NHS access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment. The review will investigate whether eligibility should be extended to single women and whether wider access should be granted to couples who already have children from previous relationships.

Health Secretary Angela Constance stated that access to NHS IVF treatment should be fair, timely, and reflect modern family structures. Currently, most single women in Scotland are ineligible for NHS-funded IVF. In 2024, Scotland performed over 6,000 fertility treatment cycles among more than 4,000 patients, making it the only UK nation where NHS-funded cycles outnumber privately funded ones.

Data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority shows that of the 330 cycles involving single women in 2024, only 50 were NHS-funded. Campaigners have welcomed the decision, arguing that the presence of two parents rather than one does not determine a child's ability to thrive.