Confidentiality 

All details of your treatment at The Hewitt Fertility Centre are completely confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party without your permission.

Your GP

Before undergoing treatment at The Hewitt Fertility Centre, it is advisable to keep your GP fully informed. This also allows you, as a patient, to discuss what record you want keeping as part of your medical notes.

We believe that communicating with GPs is paramount to a patient’s wellbeing, as GPs often have a role to play in the treatment plan; such as administering injections. However, we do, of course, respect the right of patients to have a say in what is told to their medical practitioner and to their gynaecologist.

Welfare of the child

As a licensed unit, we are required by law to satisfy ourselves that we know of no medical or social reason why an individual or couple may not be offered treatment, including anything that may adversely affect the welfare of any resulting child.

We make our enquiries by asking patients to complete a welfare of the child form.If necessary we may need to make further enquiries by contacting the patient's GP or other third parties.

Decision process

People seeking treatment are entitled to a fair and unprejudiced assessment of their situation and needs.

This is conducted with skill and sensitivity appropriate to the delicacy of the case and the wishes and
feelings of those involved. Patients are also encouraged to give their views before any decision is made.

If you have concerns regarding any of the issues raised above, please contact a member of the counselling team on 0151 702 4075.

Parental Responsibility

A person with parental responsibility has the authority to decide about the care of the child while the latter is young, for example for medical treatment and education.

A child’s legal mother automatically has parental responsibility. The position of the father or other parent depends on factors including their marital status, what is recorded on the birth certificate, and whether the family court has made an order.

Legal Parenthood

Legal parenthood gives a lifelong connection between a parent and a child, and affects things like nationality, inheritance and financial responsibility.

When donor sperm or embryos are used for gamete or embryo transfers that take place after 6th April 2009, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 states that if couples using donor sperm or embryos are not married or not in a civil partnership, both parties must consent to the partner being the child’s second legal parent in order to be legally recognised as such, and named on the child's birth certificate.

The situation for married couples and couples in a civil partnership the spouse is the legal parent of the child unless it is shown that he/she did not consent to treatment. The status of same sex couples who are civil partners is that of married couples.

Should you have any concerns regarding this, please contact a member of the counselling team on 0151 702 4075, or if required seek your own legal advice.

Duty of The HFEA

The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is a government body that regulates fertility treatment in the UK. The HFEA are responsible for licencing and monitor centres to ensure that the highest of standards are maintained in accordance with the law. As such, we have a duty to inform the HFEA of all the treatment cycles that we provide and the outcomes of those treatments.

The HFEA also manage a register for donor conceived children. 'The Register' allows people who have been conceived as a result of donor sperm, eggs or embryos to learn about their genetic background, helping to avoid marriage and children between biological relatives. People who are aged 18 or over and know or suspect that they were donor conceived can apply to the HFEA for information regarding their genetic background.

This practice came into effect on 1st of August 1991.

The Hewitt Fertility Centre operates in strict compliance with the HFEA code of practice, with regular inspections ensuring that we provide a high quality service for our patients.

For further information see the HFEA website.