The whole experience has been very frustrating. Earlier parts of this blog chronicle initial stages of that journey. The current letter admits that the wait for ICSI should be 12 to 18 months. It says that recent staffing reductions at IVF Wales meant they had to reduce by half the number of patients treated per week, hence the delay. It adds that complications in the changeover of provider for IVF Wales mean staffing levels won't increase until September this year. (Reading between the lines, we could be looking at more than 21 months).
We could write back explaining our particular circumstances, in the hope we get moved up the list a bit. We could take the matter to the Ombudsman. We have asked a relative of mine who works at Cardiff University Hospital (nothing to do with fertility) to pop into the clinic and see if he can twist anyone's arm.
I feel somewhat uncomfortable about all that though, given others will be on the waiting list and equally as frustrated as we are. I also doubt it would get us very far and suspect it would just cause more stress. And we are lucky enough to have choices: we can afford private treatment, should it come to that; our problem is exclusively with the sperm shape, so we have a very good chance of conceiving once treatment takes place.
Ho hum.
