- Couple spent two years trying to conceive with a sperm donor before seeking help
- GP Tom Accialini would not forward a letter to specialists because of his Christian views
- NHS Lancashire is investigating the case after making a complaint
17:01 EST, 27 May 2014
|
17:30 EST, 27 May 2014
A lesbian couple claim they were denied fertility treatment by a Christian GP practice that said they should not have children.
Lisa Gilligan and Amy Hyde say their doctor delayed a crucial application letter, while a manager told them staff ‘did not believe same-sex couples should have children’.
The couple, who have been together for seven years, tried to conceive with a sperm donor for two years before their GP Tom Accialini, of Lambeth Street surgery in Blackburn, Lancashire, sent them to a specialist clinic.
Lesbian couple Lisa Gilligan, left, and Amy Hyde, right, claim their GP refused to forward them for IVF treatment because it was a ‘Christian’ GP practice
But when tests showed they needed treatment, he did not send off their application for funding, they said.
Couples have three months from the time they are referred to get funding approved – and all letters must be signed by a GP.
Lisa Gilligan, left, and Amy Hyde, right, have been a couple for the past seven years
Miss Gilligan, 30, said: ‘I kept ringing and ringing but no one would tell me anything. I rang the site manager, Mary Piper. At first, I was told the letter was on the doctor’s desk .?.?. but then she said they couldn’t do it. She said they were a Christian practice and .?.?. don’t believe same-sex couples should have children.’
Cornerstone Practice, of which Lambeth Street is part, has apologised and agreed to send the letter, more than two months after the couple say it was given to Dr Accialini. They have complained to the NHS.
Miss Gilligan said the delay was
‘heartbreaking’, adding: ‘We are just hoping it’s not too late,
otherwise we’ll have to go through this whole process again.’
Miss
Hyde, also 30, said: ‘Why, if it was against their Christian beliefs
for us to have children, would they refer us for tests?’
Cornerstone
Practice’s website states it has ‘a Christian foundation’ but ‘will not
discriminate against anyone because of gender, sexuality, sexual
preference, religion, race or age’.
NHS
Lancashire said it was investigating, adding: ‘If a doctor is unable or
unwilling to act for personal ethical reasons, he or she has a duty to
ensure a patient can access another opinion.’
Katie Stanton of Cornerstone said it could not comment due to patient confidentiality.
Dr Tom Accialini of the Lambeth Street surgery in Blackburn, pictured, refused to send the letter requesting IVF treatment for the couple
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The comments below have been moderated in advance.
polly,
somewhere, Germany,
7 hours ago
Having a child is not a right.
ttfan1948 Brighton,
Sussex, United Kingdom,
7 hours ago
And in another story, a perfectly respectable middle class couple had to move five times to find a social service that would allow them to adopt! Who’s up in arms over that?
Shan0nn2,
Birmingham, United Kingdom,
7 hours ago
That’s like slating a Muslim for not eating pork at a BBQ. It’s against what he believes so fair play to him for sticking by that
jackie,
Exeter, United Kingdom,
7 hours ago
If you cannot afford to pay fro your own IVF then sorry but you cannot afford to raise a child. There should be no IVF on the NHS. I feel sorry for people with fertility problems but they are not life threatening issues. Pay yourself or adopt.
Barbara White,
Bergerac, France,
7 hours ago
Money is in short supply for real medical problems for existing children who are being refused help. Having children is not a right as so many people seem to presume these days. If you decide to go for IVF. Pay for it.
graham,
lancs, United Kingdom,
7 hours ago
I’m not religious but I agree with the sentiments of the Doc.
tonyrra,
southampton, United Kingdom,
7 hours ago
If you can’t have a baby by default you can’t have it
Jay,
Dublin, Ireland,
7 hours ago
This doesn’t smell right to me. Was it ever put in writing that these people were denied treatment because of the beliefs of their physician or is this something allegedly said by a receptionist in the course of a phone call?
Elizabeth Swann,
Bridgwater, United Kingdom,
7 hours ago
They chose to live as a lesbian couple and therefore the means by which to conceive are not there. That was their choice, end of. The NHS should not be funding them wanting to ‘have it all’.
waguitarman,
Nottingham,
7 hours ago
Sam, Maidenhead, 6 hours ago
What if there was an atheist doctor who decided a Christian couple weren’t suitable future parents because he didn’t believe they could raise a child without instilling bigotry in them, would that be OK too?
This happens all the time to Christian couples who are denied fostering or adoption because of their beliefs.
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