The Homerton Fertility Centre in Hackney, London, will commence a phased reopening of its fertility services starting August 8, 2024. This follows a suspension of its license by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in March 2024.
The suspension was implemented after the clinic encountered three significant issues concerning egg and embryo freezing between May and December 2023. An investigation commissioned by the clinic revealed these concerns. The HFEA’s License Committee has now approved the clinic’s gradual resumption of treatment, provided the centre adheres to its planned corrective measures.
Peter Thompson, HFEA’s Chief Executive, stated, “The clinic has adopted new operational procedures following the investigation. The License Committee has authorized a limited number of treatment cycles to allow these new practices to be integrated and to ensure staff are adequately supported.”
The Homerton Fertility Centre, which serves both private and NHS patients at Homerton University Hospital, has been under the HFEA’s scrutiny since 1995. It faced operational challenges in 2022, leading to a temporary closure due to staffing shortages. In 2023, three specific incidents occurred: improper procedures during embryo freezing, failed thawing of frozen embryos, and misplaced embryos in the freezing solution. These issues emerged despite the HFEA’s prior recommendation in February 2023 to renew the centre’s treatment and storage license without additional conditions.
Patients were informed of these issues in a letter sent in March 2024, after those directly affected had been contacted. The HFEA’s minutes indicated that the investigation did not pinpoint a single root cause, noting that the clinic’s Serious Incident Investigation Report acknowledged the embryology team’s methodical approach despite limited staffing and experience. This report has yet to be publicly released.
Dr. Emma Rowland, Chief Operations Officer at Homerton Healthcare NHS Trust, addressed the situation at the Health in Hackney scrutiny commission in July. As reported by the Hackney Citizen, Dr. Rowland indicated that the Trust will “absolutely” disclose the findings of the investigation publicly but did not specify a timeline for this disclosure.
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