A ‘closed’ public engagement exercise on the proposal to cut IVF cycles in Worcestershire will take place tonight.
The meeting will take place at St Richard’s Hospice, in Wildwood Drive, Worcester, from 6pm to 8pm.
It will focus on a proposal by Worcestershire’s clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to cut the number of NHS-funded In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatments available to women struggling to conceive from two cycles to one.
But watchdog Healthwatch Worcestershire and Worcester Trades Union Council have both raised concerns about the meeting – citing a lack of notice and publicity and the complicated procedure for people who want to attend.
Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG promoted the meeting on a downloadable document on its website.
But to be able to attend the session, people were asked to email or phone back to register and receive details.
The document invites people who would “like to talk about these proposals in more detail” to email or phone to book to attend a public discussion group, adding that the venue and details are “to be confirmed depending on numbers”.
Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG says anyone who has expressed an interest has been assisted with details.
It says that although it is a ‘closed engagement’ and people have to book a place they will try and accommodate people if they turn up.
However a Healthwatch Worcestershire spokesman said: “We are very concerned at the idea of a closed public engagement meeting.”
They added that they are investigating what notice was given in relation to the meeting.
Bryn Griffiths, of Worcester Trades Union Council, said: “We found out about it on Monday. There’s disappointment here on the lack of notice.
“I think they are having to fit this in before the end of the consultation period. It’s indicative to me that a lot of these decisions are being rushed through quite quickly.
“There’s a real danger that they will cut corners here. I’m going to try and get there tonight.”
Mr Griffiths added, however, that he is pleased that the CCGs appear to be opening up the matter to the public.
A spokesman for the Worcestershire CCGs said: “At this stage this remains a proposal and we want to hear from anyone who may be affected before making any final decisions.
“As part of our engagement we have personally invited anybody who has expressed an interest in our plans to attend a meeting with some of our clinicians where they can discuss any concerns and find out more about how these proposed changes might affect them.”
The spokesman disputed the claim that the discussion groups are being rushed through before the end of the engagement period.
