A TRAFFORD councillor is questioning the amount of say the public has had over plans which could see IVF treatment scrapped across the borough.

It is one of four cost-cutting proposals which will go before Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) — which needs to save £10 million — at a meeting later this month.

Women seeking IVF treatment across Greater Manchester already face a postcode lottery with Bury, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside CCGs all funding three cycles of IVF, Salford, Stockport and Wigan fund two cycles.

Bolton and Manchester, along with Trafford, fund one cycle of treatment.

Cameron Ward, the CCG’s interim accountable officer, said: “We are trying to make best use of the funds we have to improve the health of all 235,000 people across Trafford, so we can stop them being ill, help them with self care, keep them out of hospital and expand primary care.

“However, we are still going to have financial pressures, so we are looking at a whole series of ideas which are also happening in other parts of the country — so we’re not alone in this.

“With IVF, we currently fund one cycle. The range across Greater Manchester is between one and three, so we would be the first to not provide it at all. But our financial challenges are more severe than other CCGs in Greater Manchester.”

However, Labour councillor Joanne Harding, chairman of health and scrutiny committee, has questioned the level of public engagement of the CCG.

She said: “I want to ensure the committee has been provided with all the actions the CCG has taken to communicate this decision to Trafford residents.

“I have requested a copy of the impact assessments and questioned what public engagement has taken place to ensure that patients impacted by this decision have had an opportunity to express their views.

“Transparent and effective communication is imperative and the public must have a say in the future if their health services.”

The CCG has been discussing these options since October and while it has not carried out an official public consultation, it says it has been talking to groups across the community about the proposals.

Mr Ward added: “You could argue it is a step too far and we do realise the knock-on consequences on the well-being for couples who would like to have a child, and that’s me speaking personally as a parent who did not go through IVF.

“So we do realise this is an emotive issue and are trying to have a sensible debate and discussion with the people of Trafford.”

One cycle of IVF is said to be successful in up to three in 10 women.

Pressure group Fertility Fairness says the number of CCGs in England offering the recommended three IVF cycles to eligible women under 40 has halved in the past five years.

Just 12 per cent now follow national guidance, down from 24 per cent in 2013.

Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green said a lack of access to IVF treatment could cause heartbreak for many families.

She said: “If the CCG is proposing to stop IVF altogether it’s just not justifiable. I’m really concerned about the way the CCG is increasingly going down this rationing route.”

Trafford CCG’s governing body will make a decision on the proposed cuts on Tuesday.