Closing your clinic
If you intend to close your centre you should inform your HFEA inspector in writing.
Your inspector will go through the procedure for transferring stored material to another centre and also the secure storage of patient files. Your HFEA inspector should be kept up to date of all developments and informed of the transfer of materials and records.
All centres are required to have a formal contingency arrangement in place with another HFEA licensed centre; this is a likely recipient of stored sperm, eggs or embryos and patient records, however, some patients may wish to use an alternative centre.
An audit of stored material should be carried out including a cross check of valid consent to storage from the patient records. A copy of this audit should be sent to the HFEA and each centre receiving stored material.
The HFEA finance department must be notified by the centre of all planned treatment taking place before the date of closure and a final HFEA invoice will have to be paid.
All outstanding HFEA forms (not including pregnancy outcome forms) should be completed and submitted to the HFEA. The centre is required to nominate a contact who will continue to follow up on patients who are currently pregnant over the subsequent 12 months.
The following patients must be informed of the centre’s closure in writing:
- patients with embryos or gametes in storage;
- patients due to start treatment, on a waiting list, or currently receiving treatment: and
- patients with ongoing pregnancies.
Centres continue to have a duty of care towards patients and this must be maintained until all stored materials and records have been safely transferred and the licence is terminated.
Further information
You can obtain more information about the licensing of treatment and storage centres from:
Compliance Department
Phone: 020 7291 8200
Email: HFEAcompliance@hfea.gov.uk
Page last updated: 27 September 2009