Over 100 heartbroken women have seen their motherhood hopes dented after a potential egg-freezing error at Guy’s Hospital.
The hospital says it was made aware of a “manufacturing issue” with some freezing solution in March 2023
But the 136 affected patients only learned of the error over the last two weeks, through a letter from the hospital, according to The Times.
This could potentially mean an eleventh-month period where communication delays meant patients were left in the dark.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital has told the News that uncertainty over which batches were affected contributed to delays in informing patients.
Since having their eggs or embryos frozen, it is understood that many of the patients have undergone cancer treatment that has left them infertile.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital has said it did not know the liquid could be faulty when eggs were frozen between September and October 2022.
The hospital has suggested a “manufacturing issue” is to blame. The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) has said an investigation at the hospital’s Assisted Conception Unit was “ongoing”.
The HFEA has also confirmed the issue is limited to two clinics in the UK; Guy’s and St Thomas’ Assisted Conception Unit and Jessop Fertility in Sheffield.
But its investigation is limited to Guy’s as the HFEA is satisfied that Jessop’s undertook a thorough investigation when they first became aware of the issue and contacted and supported any patient affected.
The Guy’s unit offers treatment on the NHS and to private patients, charging £3,700 for one round of private egg freezing or £4,500 for embryo freezing.
The odds of successful IVF rapidly diminish as women age, from 32 per cent for women under 35, to just 4 per cent for women over 44, declining about 6 or 7 per cent every couple of years.
Guy’s hospital has set up a dedicated phoneline for affected patients who are also being offered support through a counselling service.
A spokesperson for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “While we did not know about the potential issue at the time eggs or embryos were frozen, this manufacturing issue may adversely impact the chance of frozen egg or embryo survival during thawing.
“We have contacted all of those affected and apologised for the delay in doing so and any distress this may have caused.
“We are supporting those who may have been impacted, including through our counselling service, and would urge anyone with concerns to speak to us directly via the dedicated phone line we have set up.”
Rachel Cutting, Director of Compliance and Information at the HFEA, said: “The HFEA can confirm that this issue is limited to two clinics in the UK; Guy’s and St Thomas’ Assisted Conception Unit, London and Jessop Fertility, Sheffield.
“Our ongoing investigation only relates to Guy’s as we are satisfied that Jessop’s undertook a thorough investigation when they first became aware of the issue and contacted and supported any patient affected.
“The company supplying the product directly to clinics will know exactly where it’s gone through their traceability processes. The company is also obliged to report any problems to the MHRA.
“Any patients likely to have been affected will have been notified by their clinic. We hope this provides reassurance to anyone concerned.
“We share Field Safety Notices as required and every clinic is expected to act on the information provided. It is a legal requirement for clinics to report any incident to the HFEA in accordance with our clinical governance procedures, and in line with our Code of Practice.
“Fertility treatment in the UK is generally very safe, our most recent report shows that out of the almost 100,000 treatment and storage cycles which took place in 2022/23, more than 99% were conducted without any incidents occurring.”