In this section
This notice is to inform you about essential, urgent estates works to replace the heating system at Old Saint Mary’s Hospital which will start in October and is anticipated to last until mid-January 2026. We understand the importance of clear communication, providing updates of progress and plans to re-commence our full service near the time.
Clinic consultations, scans, investigations, semen analysis and sperm banking will all continue at Old Saint Mary’s Hospital as normal. Our systems to store eggs, sperm or embryos will not be affected by this work programme.
Some patients who are scheduled to undertake egg collection, embryo transfer or intrauterine insemination (IUI) during these essential estate works will be given the option of completing these procedures at the Hewitt Fertility Centre, our nearest NHS delivered fertility centre facilities at Knutsford and Liverpool. The location will be dependent on your care plan.
All pre-treatment assessments and treatment scans will continue to be carried out as usual at Old Saint Mary’s Hospital, allowing patients to remain connected to the local clinical team for most of their treatment journey.
We understand that you may have some questions about this, so we will respond to queries at appointments, on the patient communication Salve App and provide Frequently Asked Questions on our department’s website.
You do not need to take any action yet. We will be contacting patients in treatment and those on the waiting list for a treatment start date to discuss the above options.
These include:
Please note that the option of egg collection, embryo transfer or IUI in Knutsford or Liverpool will require additional forms to complete which we will arrange and guide you through.
Throughout the planned closure, your emotional wellbeing remains our priority. Counselling support is available should you need someone to talk to. To arrange a session, please call 0161 276 6000 and select Option 6.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation as we carry out these essential improvements. We deeply appreciate your continued trust in our service.
Yours sincerely
Mariam Lokman, Clinical Lead for the Department of Reproductive Medicine
Megan Lyons, Directorate Manager for the Department of Reproductive Medicine
Karen Schnauffer, Director of Laboratory Services for the Department of Reproductive Medicine and HFEA Person Responsible
To ensure staff and patient safety and to be able to deliver the highest standard of care, essential building repairs are being carried out at Old Saint Mary’s Hospital. The nature of the required repair work means that some clinical activities cannot continue during this time. While this work takes place, some parts of your treatment will be temporarily delivered at the Hewitt Fertility Centre, our nearest NHS delivered fertility centre.
The relocation will last around 3 months (until mid-January 2026). All services will return to Old Saint Mary’s as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.
Your scan, nurses and doctors appointments and stimulation monitoring will continue as usual at Saint Mary’s during the temporary closure of the theatre and embryology laboratory. When it’s time for your egg collection and/or embryo transfer, these procedures will take place at the Hewitt Fertility Centre. Most patients will be seen at the centre in Knutsford however some patients will be required to go to Liverpool depending on your care plan.
Yes. Throughout your journey, you will continue to be cared for by the same clinical and nursing teams at Saint Mary’s. This includes all consultations, monitoring scans, and stimulation appointments leading up to your egg collection. When you reach the stage of egg collection and embryo transfer, your treatment will temporarily transfer to the Hewitt Fertility Centre. Rest assured, your usual team will remain closely involved in your care, and procedures at the Hewitt Centre will be carried out to the same high standards, ensuring safety every step of the way.
Yes. You have the option to delay treatment until the essential repairs at Saint Mary’s are completed in early 2026. We’ll keep you updated so you can resume treatment as soon as possible.
Your care team at Saint Mary’s will remain unchanged to ensure continuity and consistency. The only difference is that procedures of egg collection and embryo transfer will take place at The Hewitt Fertility Centre, where their clinical team will perform the procedure. In some cases, intrauterine insemination will also take place at the Hewitt Centre.
We aim to maintain your usual schedule. Any necessary adjustments will be communicated promptly.
No. Whether you are an NHS or self-funded patient, your financial arrangements will remain the same.
We will provide full details in advance, including the clinic address, transport options, parking availability, and public transport links.
Our counselling services remain fully available throughout the closure, offering confidential support via phone or secure video call. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or need to talk about your treatment decisions, our experienced fertility counsellors are here to listen, guide, and support you every step of the way.
If your treatment requires the use of frozen embryos, eggs or sperm, these will be safely transferred to the Hewitt Centre using validated cryogenic transport systems by specialist couriers.
Yes. We understand that transporting embryos, eggs, or sperm between clinics may feel unsettling, but please be reassured that this process is managed with exceptional care and precision. Specialist medical couriers, trained in handling reproductive materials, are responsible for the transfer using rigorously validated cryogenic storage systems. These containers are engineered to maintain stable temperatures throughout the journey, with continuous monitoring to safeguard sample integrity. Our embryology team supervises the entire process to ensure your samples are treated with the same meticulous standards as they would be within our own facility. Every step follows strict protocols to guarantee the safety, viability, and confidentiality.
Yes, your written consent is required before any embryos, eggs, or sperm can be transferred to the Hewitt Fertility Centre. This is an important part of ensuring your wishes are respected and that all procedures are carried out in line with legal and regulatory standards. You will be provided with clear, detailed information about the transfer process, including how your samples will be handled, stored, and returned to Saint Mary’s once repairs are complete. Our team will guide you through the consent forms and answer any questions you may have, so you feel fully informed and confident in your decision. This process is designed to protect your safety, privacy, and the integrity of your treatment at every stage.
No. Only those needed for treatment during the relocation will be transferred. All other samples will remain securely stored at Saint Mary’s.
Any embryos frozen during treatment at the Hewitt Centre will be securely returned to Saint Mary’s once repairs are complete.
Does this plan have Clinical & Regulatory Assurance?
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has been fully informed of the temporary satellite arrangements and the essential building repairs taking place at our main clinic. They have reviewed the plans and are supportive of both the relocation and the measures being taken to ensure patient safety and continuity of care. The Hewitt Fertility Centres meets all regulatory standards, and the HFEA is satisfied that your treatment will continue to be delivered in line with national guidelines throughout this period.
Yes. The Hewitt Fertility Centre is fully licenced and has been formally assessed for suitability.
Yes. Your clinical records will be sent via encrypted e-mail and will be securely accessible at the satellite site to ensure safe and consistent care. Data governance compliance will be maintained at all times.
Yes. All patient data will be handled in accordance with GDPR, NHS, and HFEA regulations.
We endeavour to ensure that this won’t be the case and work closely with our estates colleagues and external partners to minimise the expected timescales. However, we will keep you informed and extend the temporary arrangements as needed to ensure continuity of care during this period.
Transport follows strict protocols and ensures that any risk is minimised. In the unlikely event of a problem, our clinical governance and incident management processes will be followed, and you will be fully informed.
Due to the urgency of the estates works we are activating our business continuity plan which we hold with the Hewitt Centre as our closest single provider to meet all the needs of our patients. It is also safer to use only one provider to satellite patients to for treatment as each centre may have different documentation, protocols and will require tracking separately, introducing a higher likelihood of an error being made during the satellite process. Should you not want to travel elsewhere during the closure you can opt to wait until we re-open, or alternatively you can speak to us to look at how we can support you.
Updates will be shared via the patient portal (Salve App) and our clinic website. Your care team will also provide individual treatment updates directly.
Egg collections will be carried out at the Hewitt Fertility Centre. The procedure will take place in their fully equipped theatres, using the same high-quality standards and safety protocols you would expect at Saint Mary’s. The Hewitt Centre team is highly experienced in performing oocyte retrievals and will work closely with your usual clinical team to ensure a smooth and coordinated experience. Anaesthetic support will be provided as normal, and every effort will be made to ensure you feel comfortable, informed, and well cared for throughout the process.
Partner sperm samples will be produced and processed directly at the Hewitt Fertility Centre as part of your treatment there. This will typically take place on the day of egg collection, ensuring seamless coordination with the IVF or ICSI procedures. If frozen sperm is required, it will be safely transferred to the Hewitt Centre ahead of your cycle using specialist couriers and strict handling protocols.
IVF and ICSI procedures will be carried out by the experienced embryology team at the Hewitt Fertility Centre. Their staff are fully trained and operate under the equivalent validated protocols and quality standards used at Saint Mary’s. The laboratory facilities at Hewitt have been assessed to meet all regulatory requirements, ensuring that your treatment is delivered safely and effectively using trusted equipment and procedures.
Yes. You can be fully reassured that the embryo culture conditions at the Hewitt Fertility Centre match the high standards used at Saint Mary’s. Their laboratory is equipped with validated incubators, culture media, and monitoring systems that have been rigorously tested to support optimal embryo development. These systems maintain stable temperature, pH, and gas levels, which are critical for embryo development and are continuously monitored by trained embryologists. The Hewitt Centre has undergone thorough quality assessments to ensure it meets all regulatory and clinical requirements, so your embryos will be nurtured in an environment that is safe, consistent, and designed to maximise success.
Embryo transfers will be carried out in the theatres at the Hewitt Fertility Centre by their experienced clinical team. The Hewitt staff are fully trained and operate to the same high standards as those at Saint Mary’s, ensuring your procedure is performed safely and professionally. While the location and team delivering the transfer will be different during this temporary period, your treatment plan and care pathway will remain consistent and closely coordinated with your usual team.
Yes. Any good-quality embryos remaining after your treatment will be cryopreserved at the Hewitt Fertility Centre using validated freezing techniques and secure storage systems. These embryos will remain safely stored at Hewitt until the completion of essential repairs at Saint Mary’s, at which point they will be carefully transferred back to our main site for continued storage and future use. This process is managed under strict regulatory standards to ensure the safety and integrity of your embryos throughout.
Donor gametes will be transferred to the Hewitt Centre ahead of treatment, with full regulatory compliance and chain-of-custody protocols in place.
The Department of Reproductive Medicine provides the whole range of medical and surgical treatment options for couples and individuals with fertility problems in the Northwest of England. Depending on the needs and clinical features of patients, we can provide fertility testing, ovulation induction, laparoscopic and open surgery and assisted conception.
Each year the Department provides around 700 cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, 700 cycles of frozen embryo replacement (FER), 100 cycles of insemination with partner or donor sperm (IUI) and 100 fertility preservation procedures for females and 350 preservation procedures for males .
The range of clinical services also include cryopreservation of sperm, eggs, embryos and treatment of couples with donated eggs and embryos.
Our Andrology laboratory provides diagnostic clinical pathology services, one of the largest long term sperm banks for cancer patients in the UK, and also houses the UK’s national external quality assurance schemes for Reproductive Science (UK NEQAS RS).
The work of the Department is regulated and licensed by UK statutory bodies including the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The Department operates to the EU Cells and Tissues Directive 2007, including provision of clean-air facilities for IVF and a full Quality Management system.
Further information on IVF treatment can be found here:
For further information please read the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) consent forms (including but not limited to (dependent on type of treatment) HFEA CD form, HFEA WT form and HFEA MT form) in the links below and review the HFEA information link in which you can find information on type of treatment, donation and access.
Please review the new storage laws as per below links:
Confirmation of your/your partner’s consent will be undertaken on our fertility consent platform.
Assisted conception, also called fertility treatment, is a term used to describe the methods available to help couples become pregnant when they have difficulty conceiving.
Approximately 1 in 6 couples find it hard to become pregnant in the UK.
There can be a number of reasons, or combinations of reasons, why a couple might need assistance to become pregnant:
We offer a range of fertility treatments including:
We recognise that these treatments can be very demanding and stressful for couples. A counselling service is available to provide the necessary emotional support during, before and after your treatment. We aim to empower you by explaining clearly the steps of your treatment process.
Each couple is given an individualised plan of care to maximise their chances of pregnancy in a safe and effective way.
Each treatment cycle can vary from 4-8 weeks and it may not necessarily synchronise with the female menstrual cycle.
Different couples could have different drug regimes and the number of embryos replaced through a treatment cycle may also vary between patients.
We accept referrals for couples, single people and individuals with concerns about fertility. Referral should be made by your doctor or hospital consultant.
When you are referred, we ask you to complete a proforma which allows us to determine whether or not you are eligible for NHS tests and treatment. This depends on several factors, including your length of stay in the UK, relationship status, age, previous treatment and previous children, if any.
Unfortunately this means that, even if you are referred to our clinic, you may not be eligible for tests or treatment.
When you are referred, we ask you to complete a proforma which allows us to determine whether or note you are eligible for NHS tests and treatment.
We cannot tell you this until your consultation appointment, when your assessment is complete. Eligibility criteria for NHS-funded assisted conception treatment are determined by your consultation appointment, when your assessment is complete. Eligibility criteria for NHS-funded assisted conception treatment are determined by your Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and differ from one area to another. In order to determine whether you are eligible for NHS-funded treatment, we need to assess factors such as your age, weight, lifestyle, existing children and the number of previous fertility treatments you have received. NHS funded treatment can only be offered if you meet all the criteria laid down by your CCG. If you wish to know the exact details of the criteria in your area please contact your GP or CCG. Please note that we do not have the authority to provide NHS-funded treatment to couples who do not meet the criteria laid down by the CCG.
If you are not eligible for NHS-funded assisted conception treatment, we may be able to offer you some investigations and expert advice on your options. We also offer a fee-paying service for patients who are not eligible for NHS funding.
Please see the below Price List and example Costed Treatment Plan.
For more information on the Fee-Pay service, please send your enquiry to IVF.Feepaying@mft.nhs.uk
We have a large team of doctors (consultants and clinical fellows), embryologists, andrologists, nurses, counsellors and administrative staff working together to deliver the highest quality of care. You will come into contact with different members of the team during different parts of your treatment.
The department of Reproductive Medicine and the Andrology Unit are located in the old Saint Mary’s Hospital building. There is a dedicated entrance on Oxford Road, opposite Whitworth Park. Disabled access is available via Hathersage Road or York Place Entrance. Access cannot be gained via the new Saint Mary’s Hospital building.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which is the licensing body in the UK for assisted conception treatment, publishes details of success rates for each provider in the UK.
You can read more about success rates on the HFEA website.
You need to be referred by your GP or Consultant Gynaecologist.
We also offer a fee-paying service for those who are ineligible for NHS funding, such as if you already have a child, or if you have reached the quota of funded cycles offered by your CCG.
(0161) 276 6000
Please note the nurse phone line is open only between:
Mon – Fri: 08.30am – 3.30pm
Sat – Sun: 09.00am – 3.00pm
Option 1 – Recurrent miscarriage, Endometriosis, Reproductive Endocrine or Menopause Service
Option 2 – To start a fertility treatment cycle and to request treatment
Option 3 – In a fertility treatment cycle and wish to speak to an Embryologist
Option 4 – To speak to the Fee Paying Coordinator
Option 5 – In a fertility treatment cycle and need to speak to nurses about your ongoing treatment
Option 6 – General Enquiries in relation to Infertility, Andrology, Fertility Preservation & Assisted Conception (IVF)
If you have any comments/complaints or any other feedback about the service provided, please visit our Get in Touch page.
Alternatively, the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) team are available. Whether you are a patient, a relative, friend or carer, they will listen to your concerns, help make your voice heard and liaise with the relevant staff to sort out any problems quickly. They also give a voice to patients’ issues, help to identify gaps in services and report to the Trust Board. You can contact them by emailing pals@mft.nhs.uk.
The Saint Mary’s Hospital IVF unit is active in research aiming to improve the success rate and safety of fertility treatment and you may be approached to participate in research studies during your treatment here. We are constantly striving to improve IVF results by introducing new techniques and increasing scientific knowledge of fertilisation and embryo development. The success rate of IVF is continually improving as a result of on-going research.
We have Research Nurses and a variety of scientific staff. Professor Roger Sturmey is responsible for the research studies in this department. Our research studies are HFEA approved & licensed and we hold the longest HFEA license, as well as being one of the top academic and research active units within the UK.
A number of studies require couples to donate their sperm, egg or embryos which are unsuitable for their treatment, and would otherwise be discarded to research, whilst other studies are looking to improve clinical treatment. The research is completely voluntary and clinical care is not affected by your decision to participate in research or not. This means that you can decide whether or not to take part in the research, and your treatment will not be affected by your decision.
Our first ever HFEA dashboard is now available on our website. Our dashboard gives users the opportunity to explore HFEA data and find statistics on their own areas of interest and is part of our commitment to improving transparency and accessibility in the data we collect from clinics.
The HFEA dashboard is produced from data collected from licensed fertility clinics in the UK and covers the period from 1991-2021, where data is available.