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LONDON WOMEN’S CLINIC AND COVID
The need to impose restrictive policies to prevent COVID transmission is thankfully diminishing. At LWC we have been able to relax many previously necessary policies so that your experience of care is as unaffected by these as possible. Below we provide the latest update which we hope you will find helpful. We do keep the situation under review and should the situation change, we will continue to adapt to protect our patients and staff.
(Updated 1st June, 2022)Consultations
Face to face consultations are available and more patients are requesting these. However, consultations can of course be carried out online or by telephone. The online alternative using Microsoft Teams (or the telephone) has proved effective and popular with many, and our team can arrange these for you if you prefer.
Consent forms can now be completed online. However, you will need to attend the clinic for clinical investigations, ultrasound scans, and procedures such as inseminations, oocyte retrievals, and embryo transfers.
Attending your appointment
Although may precautionary policies have now been lifted, the following remain in place.
We ask that you:
- Read and complete the Covid Information form prior to treatment starting
- Accompanying individuals are now welcome to most appointments. Please check with your local clinic on current policies in this regard
- On arrival, you should continue to wash your hands and forearms with the alcohol-based hand sanitiser provided
Patients attending our clinics in England are no longer required to have a Covid-19 swab test prior to theatre procedures unless symptomatic. However, patients undergoing theatre procedures in our Cardiff clinic are still required to have a Covid-19 swab test prior to their procedure.
If you have a pre-existing condition or are in a high-risk group for Covid-19 and have not been vaccinated, we may advise you to postpone treatment. Further information may be found on:
If your circumstances change after your treatment cycle has started but before any procedure is carried out, or if you should test positive for the Covid-19 virus, cancellation of your treatment cycle may be necessary. If you contract Covid-19 after egg collection, we may recommend freezing your embryos and waiting to start treatment.
While all our clinics are welcoming accompanying persons to attend most appointments, please check ahead of your appointment directly with the clinic and their policy at this time.
Before you travel, please check and be ready to comply with local and UK Government travel and social distancing policies. It is important you are aware of the risk of travelling at this time with heightened measures in place when arriving in the UK from abroad. You can find up to date information and the requirements for travel to the UK and exemptions from this link here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19
In line with current advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) it is advised pregnant women should be offered Covid-19 vaccines and that women who have received the vaccine need not delay trying to become pregnant after receiving the vaccine.
For more information:
Regarding donation services, it is advised if you are donating within 7 days of vaccination that this is also risk assessed by the clinic on an individual basis.
Our Support Services
Our priority at LWC is to ensure our patients are able to access support as required. Whatever stage of your fertility journey we recognise the benefits of peer support and have established our own patient community. If you would like to join our Facebook group, please search for LWC Social where you can connect with other patients in real-time.
Patients are also able to access fertility counselling at every stage of treatment and we would encourage patients to contact your nursing team or patient care coordinator if they feel this might be of benefit.
Whatever your support needs - counselling, coaching, or connecting with others - wherever you are in your fertility journey, please do get in touch if we can help.
Thank You
While we are all beginning to emerge from the pandemic, this remains a challenging time for everyone, especially those who are trying to conceive with fertility treatment. At the LWC our teams are always committed to providing you with safe, supportive and effective care. We do ask for your understanding if your treatment journey is in any way impacted by the virus and any additional steps we may be required to take to maintain the safety of our clinical service for you.
Additional Resources
- The government’s advice to the public is kept updated at: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
- HFEA guidance for patients: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/covid-19-and-fertility-treatment/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-patients/
- HFEA FAQ’s for patients: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/covid-19-and-fertility-treatment/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-patients/frequently-asked-questions-for-patients-on-coronavirus-covid-19/