Embryo mix-up couple ‘still plan IVF’

AN IVF couple compensated by an NHS trust after their last embryo was implanted in the wrong woman by mistake said yesterday they may use the money to try for another child.

They said they would have to wait for two years before they thought about attempting another cycle of IVF treatment because they are not “emotionally ready” after the blunder by the Cardiff and Vale NHS trust.

The couple, from Bridgend, south Wales, identified only as Deborah and Paul, said they could never return to the same NHS health trust for treatment as they had lost faith in its staff and procedures. As a result, they turned down an offer of a free cycle of fertility treatment.

They were hoping to try for a second baby with their last surviving embryo in December 2007 when they were told of the error.

The woman wrongly implanted at the IVF Wales clinic in Cardiff chose to have a termination after finding out what had happened.

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust apologised after admitting liability for gross failures in care and paid the couple an undisclosed sum.

The couple began fertility treatment in 2000 and three years later Deborah gave birth to a son. She said they were hoping to provide their son with a sibling before the mistake occurred.

Describing the moment when the news was broken to them about the mistake, Deborah said: “We felt absolutely devastated. Both of us got very tearful.

“We just wanted to get out of there. The actual mention of the termination part of it really upsets us because we tend to think of the embryo as the little boy that we have got because he was from the first batch of embryos.”

Paul added: “It took some time afterwards for it to sink in. We decided then we wanted to investigate and we wanted a full report.

“They were supposed to send us an investigation and they weren’t sending anything. That was when we involved a solicitor to look into the case and investigate it.”

The couple’s solicitor, Guy Forster of Irwin Mitchell, said the mistake occurred when, against all guidance, more than one patient’s embryos were temporarily stored in the incubator.

A trainee embryologist failed to carry out “fail-safe” witnessing procedures to ensure the embryo being taken from the incubator and implanted belonged to the correct patient.

Ian Lane, the health trust’s medical director, issued a statement apologising “unreservedly” to the couple for the error.

Mr Lane said systems and checks have since been improved in line with the recommendations made in a report by HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) investigators.

He said: “We have strengthened our protocols and reduced our workload to relieve pressure on staffing levels.

“Working conditions at the unit have since improved and we are continuously monitoring the safeguards and procedures we have put in place.”

The couple welcomed the changes made at the health trust but said it had not restored their confidence.

Paul said: “The problem, as I see it, is that procedures have been tightened up but the procedures weren’t followed.

“It is all well and good to tighten up procedures but if they are not going to follow them, it doesn’t matter what procedures are put in place.”

The 38-year-old added: “What is worse for us is that there were two near-misses and nothing was done about that and it was just waiting for an accident to happen. Unfortunately, it happened to us.

“It was going to happen. If you have near-misses, unless something changes, the next one won’t be a near-miss.”