Wed, 25 Jun 2025

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 I paid £15,000 for arranging IVF – then the service went bust

Companies that act as "middlemen" between patients and doctors are not regulated by the fertility watchdog.

* A concierge IVF clinic called Apricity went bust, leaving 52 patients without treatment or refunds, with a total debt of £119,000.
* Patients who used the service had paid for their own fertility treatments and were matched with donors and doctors through Apricity's online platform.
* The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) says it cannot regulate concierge clinics because they do not provide IVF treatment directly.
* The HFEA is calling for the law to be strengthened to protect patients who use these services.
* Patients affected by the closure of Apricity have reported feeling frustrated, angry, and betrayed by the experience.
* Experts warn that more people are turning to private fertility treatments due to postcode lotteries in NHS IVF funding.
* The HFEA is advising patients to opt for treatment at an HFEA-licensed clinic, which has responsibilities towards patients in case of closure.
* The UK government says it is considering the HFEA's recommendations on modernizing fertility law and advises patients to do thorough research before using digital clinics.
  >>