Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee 26 November 2025
PE2146, lodged by Jamie Connelly, calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to allow couples and individuals to purchase altruistically donated eggs from private clinics for use in NHS-funded IVF treatment, and to instruct NHS Scotland to create a clear clinical pathway to support those who use private donor eggs.
We last considered the petition on 23 April, when we agreed to write to the Scottish Government. The Government’s response states that NHS boards collect data on the waiting times for couples who require an altruistic egg donor. The fertility centre with the longest wait time is currently Glasgow Royal fertility clinic, which advises the Scottish Government that couples who require an altruistic egg donor might wait between three to four years for treatment. The wait times at the other three NHS fertility centres are below that time. The Scottish Government therefore believes that, as far as possible, NHS fertility centres are meeting the needs of couples who require donor gametes, which includes donor eggs, and NHS fertility treatment.
The petitioner has written a submission to the committee, which, in the light of the Government’s assertion on the issue, questions why patients are being advised that their potential wait time for eggs is likely to exceed 30 years. He states that there are people and couples who are removing themselves from the assisted conception process due to the information that they are being given on potential wait times for eggs.
Do members have any comments or suggestions for action? I feel that Mr Torrance is bursting to speak.