NHS IVF policy changes for Oldham and Greater Manchester 2026

From April 2026, every woman aged 39 or under in Oldham will be offered one NHS-funded IVF cycle, with a second only if the first is cancelled. The change ends a patchwork that gave some boroughs up to three attempts and leaves Greater Manchester matching the tighter provision now common across England.

The unified rule follows a six-week consultation in summer 2025 that drew 2,200 responses from patients, residents and clinicians. While most people wanted two or more funded cycles, many said fairness mattered more than quantity; the board decided a single policy was the only way to end the postcode lottery.

For Oldham, the practical effect is a cut: where local clinics once offered up to three cycles, they will now offer one. Anyone already referred before 1 April keeps their existing entitlement, but new referrals after that date enter the slimmer scheme, regardless of medical history.

Board papers record repeated worries about the emotional toll of infertility and the extra cost of private treatment. Clinics have been told to spell out the new limits clearly and to support couples through the transition, yet no extra funding has been announced to soften the reduction.

NHS Greater Manchester says the decision balances limited money against equal access. For some families in Oldham, the wait for a second or third publicly funded chance is over; they will now have to find it themselves or go without.