UK hospitals could expand their private fertility services if radical NHS reforms go ahead, the BBC reports. The overhaul would allow leading foundation trusts - self-governing hospitals - to compete with the private sector.

Fertility treatment would be an obvious area for hospitals to target since NHS provision is limited, said the body representing foundation trusts.

'In the past these patients have had their NHS cycles and then left for private treatment. That is money that has been lost to the system', Sue Slipman, director of the Foundation Trust Network, told the BBC.

The NHS reforms were unveiled by the Government last Monday. Under the proposals, existing foundation trusts would see limits on their private income lifted. All other NHS trusts would have to become self governing within three years.

Reproduced from BioNews with permission, a web- and email-based source of news, information and comment on assisted reproduction and human genetics, published by Progress Educational Trust.