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01 February 1995

Dear Colleague

Publication of success rates — HFEA consultation

In our 1994 Annual Report the Authority said that it would "give further consideration to the best way of presenting comparative statistical information about the success of IVF and DI treatment at different centres". In the Foreword to that report my predecessor said that the Authority's objective was to "provide people with information which is both meaningful to them and fair to centres. We are determined to find a solution which is widely acceptable in the coming year".

We have given considerable thought to this issue over a number of months and we believe that we have found a way of presenting relevant information that meets both the criteria of usefulness and fairness. The enclosed consultation package sets out our thinking so far, and we would welcome your comments on these proposals before we make final decisions about how to proceed.

We start from the principle that where information is held, and and when legitimate requests are made for it, it is right to give it unless there are compelling reasons not to do so.

There has been a clear and sizeable demand for centre-specific success rates from prospective patients, from patient groups and from parts of the media. We have looked at why such information is wanted, the way in which it might be presented, why it might be unhelpful or misleading, and the ways in which any such reservations could be overcome.

Broadly speaking, our conclusion is that this information should be given. While there are a number of variables affecting outcome which might make the comparison of success rates complicated, we can produce a model which adjusts for these variables sufficiently to make the exercise valuable.
 
However, we also recognise that even if success rates can be fairly presented, they still form only a part of the picture that patients should consider when they come to choose a clinic. We would aim therefore to set success rates clearly in the context of a wider and more general set of information for patients. This is reflected in the enclosed consultation package.

The package consists of the following:

- consultation paper outlining the Authority's views and raising questions on which comments are sought;

- explanation of the basis of the proposed statistical model for analysing and presenting centres7 success rates;

- draft patient information booklet showing the context in which success rates would be presented; and

- presentation of anonymised success rates for several IVF and DI clinics; and

We would welcome comments on the specific questions raised in the consultation paper itself. In addition, we would be grateful for comments on the draft patient booklet and any detailed comments or suggestions in respect of the statistical model.

Licensed centres already give patients details of their own success rates, and have always done so. It is right that they should do this, but our experience is that centres present these data in different ways and at different times. Patients therefore currently receive inconsistent information. Our aim is to give them access to information that is clear, fair and consistent. We appreciate that it is difficult to find a way of presenting these data in a way that is consistent, meaningful, and acceptable to everyone. However, information should be given, and we are seeking a way of ensuring that it is as honest and as helpful as possible.

The enclosed package sets out what we believe to be the best way forward. We would be grateful to receive your comments by 31 March 1995.

Yours sincerely

 

Mrs Ruth Deech
Chairman

Page last updated: 17 August 2012

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