The Government in Scotland has set out a major spending initiative on infertility treatment in a bid to reduce waiting times for IFV to less than 12 months by 2015.

The £12 million investment will attempt to improve IVF treatment across the whole Scotland’s NHS boards and was announced during a speech by the Finance Secretary John Swinney at Holyrood.

Michael Matheson, The minister for public health in Scotland, said: “There is a great demand for fertility treatment and we know it can be very upsetting for patients to have to wait for treatment, especially when the amount of time couples wait for treatment can vary across the country.”

The investment will be staggered between now and 2015. In the first year, 2012/13, £2 million will be spent. In 2013/14, this will rise to £4 million and in the final year spending will increase to £6 million.

Mr Matheson says that the rise in spending will help the Government to achieve its commitment to achieve 12-month waiting times for IVF services. He says that it is key that eligible patients can expect an equal level of access to the treatment.