If you believe that you may be eligible to qualify for fertility treatment which is funded by the HSE, the first step is to contact your GP. They will refer you to the appropriate fertility hub.
There are six fertility hubs based in public maternity hospital networks across the country. Public fertility services are organised around these hubs and they are staffed by specially qualified doctors, nurses, admin staff and scientists. There is no cost to patients for tests or treatment in the fertility hubs.
The six regional hubs are in the following locations - Dublin, in the National Maternity Hospital, the Coombe and Rotunda hospitals, and also in Galway, Cork and Limerick. Depending on your address, you will be allocated to a particular hub.
To access free IUI, IVF or ICSI treatment you and your partner must meet all the access criteria.
The access criteria are around: residency, age, children, number of parents, relationship length, sterilisation, previous IVF treatment, body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle.
For more information, please visit HSE.ie
Your GP will share the results of your tests and investigations with the fertility hub as part of your referral.
When the fertility hub receives your referral, they will send you a male and a female questionnaire to complete and return.
The information you give in these questionnaires will help the team to have a complete picture of your health, medical history and your fertility journey to date. This will help the fertility team to plan your care based on your needs.
Once the fertility hub receives your screening questionnaires, they will arrange for further specialised fertility tests and an appointment with the Consultant.
The team at the fertility hub may recommend fertility treatment for some people. This may be based on the findings and results of investigations or where treatment in the fertility hub has not resulted in a pregnancy. Fertility treatment includes IUI, ICSI and IVF.
The fertility hub will give you information about all HSE-approved private providers and refer you to whichever provider you choose. You will need to sign a consent form to say that you understand the proposed treatment and that you agree to your details being sent to the provider.
If you choose Merrion Fertility Clinic, your referral will come to us and you will receive an appointment for a consultation within 6 weeks and will begin the fertility treatment within 12 weeks of the referral being made.
IVF and ICSI
Your fertility hub will decide on whether you are referred for IVF or ICSI.
You will be entitled to one funded treatment cycle. If you do not become pregnant as a result of the treatment cycle but you have frozen embryos remaining, you will be entitled to funded Frozen Embryo Transfers until either you achieve pregnancy or you use all your embryos.
Storage Costs
Storage of embryos is funded while you are still in active treatment and, if you become pregnant and still have frozen embryos, the storage cost will be funded for two years post the birth of your child.
IUI
If you are referred to us for IUI, you will be entitled to up to three IUI treatment cycles. If you are not successful in conceiving, you will be referred back to the fertility hub.
Standard of Care
Our HSE funded patients received the same standard of care as our private patients.
Our Doctors, Nurses and Embryologists work as a team, and the outcomes of all patient cases are discussed at a weekly multi-disciplinary meeting. You will be assigned a Patient Coordinator who will arrange appointments and answer your queries promptly.
We are Ireland’s only not-for-profit fertility clinic with over 25 years of experience and excellent rates of success. Closely associated with the National Maternity Hospital, our highly experienced Consultants offer individualised care so you can begin and continue your journey with us.
Opening Hours
Mon – Fri: 8am – 4pm
* Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays are for patients undergoing treatment – Appointment Only.
© Merrion Fertility Clinic, 2023
