´LOOKING TO THE FUTURE' HFEA conference tackles upcoming issues in the fertility sector
14 March 2005
The future issues in the fertility sector - empowering patients in their treatment choices, forthcoming scientific developments and the future regulation of the sector - will be examined in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's 2005 Annual Conference, 'Looking to the Future', which will be held at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, on Tuesday 15 March.
The day-long conference will look at what developments and changes can be expected over the next five years and will bring together speakers from scientific research, the media, NHS and private sector clinicians, embryologists, the House of Commons select committee on Science and Technology, laboratory staff, HFEA regulation, donor and assisted conceived children and fertility patients.
Topics to be considered include:
- How new and better information can help patients to become more involved in choices about their treatment
- Psychological experiences of children born through IVF and Donor conception
- What the fertility treatment sector will look like in 5 years time - views from the private sector and NHS
- Scientific developments and the consequences for society
- What the future regulation of fertility treatment and research will look like - including the HFEA's modernisation programme, managing the current risks in clinics and an personal analysis by Dr Ian Gibson, Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology committee
- How new developments should improve and ensure the safety of IVF practice and treatment
Suzi Leather, Chair of the HFEA, said:
"The past 14 years have seen the UK grow to become a world leader in fertility treatment and human embryo research. But the pace of change is enormous and new challenges and issues are arising all the time.
"Currently, one in seven couples have problems having children and current trends suggest that the number of people affected by infertility will continue to rise.
"It is important that all of us in the fertility treatment and research sector keep a careful watch on what the future is bringing. The HFEA will ensure that our effective regulation of the sector continues to bring benefits for the many thousands of people who have children through assisted reproduction and to the researchers who are driving this work forward.
"At the HFEA we keep a careful eye on future developments and are continuing to modernise our approach and way of working. But we can't move the sector forward on our own.
"By bringing together representatives of everybody affected by these advances - patients, health professionals, researchers and policymakers - we can build a shared understanding of the future opportunities and challenges that will affect us all.
"We have managed to bring together a distinguished array of speakers and I look forward to hearing their experiences and sparking the debate that is sure to follow."
A draft of the conference programme is attached below. Conference delegates need to register with the HFEA as there is a limit of 250 places on the day.
Ends
Notes to editors
The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA's principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
For further information please contact the HFEA press office.
Agenda: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
HFEA ANNUAL CONFERENCE: 15th MARCH
Royal College of Surgeons, London
9:30 Welcome and Introduction - Suzi Leather, Chair of HFEA
9:35 What's on the Scientific Horizon
Professor Alan Trounson, Director, Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories
Response looking at the social and broader implications - Steve Connor, Science Editor, Independent.
Discussion
10:20 What the sector will look like in 2010
What will the ART sector look like in 5 years time? What effect will the NICE guidelines have? What will be the new demands faced by clinics? Two views from the NHS and the private sector
NHS view
Professor David Barlow, Executive Dean of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow)
Private Sector view
Dr. Simon Fishel, Director CARE at the Park, Nottingham
Discussion
11:10 Coffee
11:40 Making Regulation Effective
The Government's forthcoming Review of the HFE Act, the impact of the EU Tissue Directive, will all change the face of regulation. What regulatory system do we want in the UK?
HFEA and implementing EU Tissue Directive
Angela McNab, Chief Executive, HFEA
The clinic's perspective of the EU Directive and review of the 1990 Act
Dr. Dave Morroll, Consultant Embryologist, Reproductive Medicine Unit, St James's University Hospital; Chair of Association of Clinical Embryologists
Select Committee and the HFE Act
Dr. Ian Gibson, MP and Chair of the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology
Discussion
13:00 Lunch and opportunity to meet HFEA members and staff
14:00 Promoting Safety post Toft
The Toft Report raised issues of managing risk and using new technologies in helping ensure safety in clinics. The HFEA's new working group on Safety and New Technologies is reviewing new systems such as bar coding and also looking at risk management systems and risk management.
Moving Towards Risk Based Regulation
Trish Davies, Director of Regulation, HFEA
Maximising lab safety
Dr. Steve Troup, Liverpool Women's Hospital
Discussion
14:50 Responsibility for the lives created: offspring from ART and gamete donation
The psychological wellbeing of ART children: How much do we really know?
Professor Susan Golombok, Director, Family and Child Psychology Research Centre, City University, London
All I can remember is that I've always known ? Young people's experiences of early disclosure of donor conception
Eric Blyth, Professor of Social Work, University of Huddersfield
Video of personal perspectives from families of donor conceived children
Discussion
15:45 Tea
16:05 Patients: What do they need to know to make informed choices?
The sector is seeing a greater role for patients. What information do patients want and how can they become involved more in their own treatments?
Best practice in patient information
Oliver Fry, Senior Public Affairs Officer, Which
Information for patients: Presentation of new Patients' Guide
Patient Involvement: Clare Brown, Chief Executive, Infertility Network UK, and Kate Brian, Author of "In Pursuit of Parenthood: Experiences of IVF"
17:00 Closing comments - Suzi Leather, Chair of HFEA
17:05 Reception
- 18:00
Page last updated: 13 April 2009