Homerton fertility centre’s licence restored following probe into embryo losses

Homerton Hospital. Photograph: courtesy the Homerton

Homerton Hospital’s fertility centre has had its licence restored after 32 patients were affected by the loss of embryos in “three separate incidents” last year.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which revoked the centre’s licence in March, told Homerton Healthcare NHS Trust that services can resume provided it acts on the recommendations of the independent investigation.

The Trust said it is “confident” that it can do so.

Chief executive Bas Sadiq added: “We would like to apologise again to all the patients affected by the suspension of our fertility services.

“We are pleased that the HFEA has informed us we can resume work at the fertility centre.”

Peter Thompson, the regulator’s chief executive, said the HFEA was satisfied the centre could reopen due to the changes it has introduced.

“The clinic has introduced new ways of working as a result of the investigation,” he said.

“The HFEA’s licence committee has agreed that a limited number of cycles can be undertaken to allow these new ways of working to ‘bed in’ and ensure staff feel supported.

“The clinic will, therefore, have a phased return to providing treatment.

“The clinic remains under a heightened degree of regulatory oversight and the HFEA will closely monitor it, including an unannounced inspection within the next six months.”

At last week’s Health in Hackney scrutiny commission, Emma Rowland, chief operations officer at Homerton Healthcare NHS Trust, told councillors that the investigation’s findings and recommendations are going through internal governance and duty of candour processes, which involve sharing the findings with affected patients.

She said the Trust has already commenced an improvement action plan which has been shared with the HFEA.

“There have been lots of rumours flying around,” she added, confirming that there is no active police investigation into the “incidents”.

Rowland said the Trust will “absolutely” be sharing “what we can” of the investigation’s findings publicly, but did not disclose when, or how much of the information will be made available.

Cllr Ben Hayhurt, chair of the committee, said publicly publishing the findings would be “important in terms of wider confidence”.

“I know there can be a culture… to try and protect the institution by giving as limited [information as possible],” he said, “but on the flipside, it does provide a degree of confidence.”