An overview of what happens where
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a highly specialised infertility treatment, requiring frequent hospital visits. Transport IVF has been set up at St Helier Hospital, in association with two other hospitals in central London, to try to reduce the amount of travelling for people in the local area at a time of emotional stress.
The assisted conception unit (ACU) at St Helier has been involved with transport IVF since 1996. If you are a suitable couple for transport IVF, your initial consultation will be made with Dr Elizabeth Sherriff, Mrs Carolyn Croucher or Miss Ding at the St Helier ACU.
Here you will have the opportunity to discuss issues such as research, freezing of embryos, eggs and sperm, and the embryo transfer itself. Both these doctors have over 12 years' experience in the specilaity of assisted conception.
Your follow-up appointment will be with one of the fertility nurses in the St Helier ACU (pictured right) to review all the paperwork, e.g. consent forms and welfare of the child form, and to answer any queries you may have. The fertility nurse will explain the different types of drugs used and teach you how to self-administer your injections.
Your next appointment will be at King's College Hospital ACU (if you are eligible for NHS funding) or The Bridge Fertility Centre (if you are self-funding). Here you will meet the second team of doctors and nurses looking after you, and a semen sample will be assessed before treatment can begin.
Once you begin your treatment programme, all your scans, blood tests, superovulation and egg collection will take place at St Helier Hospital. The sperm and egg preparation, In Vitro Fertilisation, and embryo transfer will take place at King's ACU or The Bridge Fertlity Centre. Follow-up appointments will be back at St Helier Hospital.
