A COUPLE desperate to become parents have been denied the opportunity first by nature and then by the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

37-year-old Emma Edey wants a baby with her husband Lee, 42, more than anything.

The couple have struggled to conceive and were hoping to get support however last year the service was withdrawn and is no longer available on the NHS in north Essex, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Mrs Edey, of Russell Court, has been with her partner for nine years and married for eight.

She said they have changed their lifestyles, including giving up alcohol and attempting to give up cigarettes, to improve their health and chances of conceiving but it just hasn't happened.

And when they looked into NHS funded IVF she was told there was only weeks left to be accepted but she missed the deadline because a hormone level was fractionally too high so she was not put forward for treatment.

Time is now running out for Mrs Edey to have a chance of conceiving due to other medical complications.

She said: "They say there is nothing they can do and we are not going to get funding.

"This is my dream they have completely taken away.

"I have wanted a child for so long.

"Some areas have three chances but in Colchester it is not even one."

She explained the couple cannot afford to "go private" and said whenever she talks about it she breaks down.

Sam Hepplewhite, chief officer at the NEECCG said: "I am very sorry restrictions to IVF were implemented and I understand the disappointment and impact this decision has had on some local couples who are experiencing difficulties in conceiving.

"Our health services face unprecedented demands with an ever increasing population – some of whom live with complex conditions.

"The NHS across north east Essex has to achieve £14m efficiencies each year for the next four years.

"Therefore, when commissioning services, we must take into consideration the overall benefit services have on the wider population to ensure they meet greatest need.

"While I appreciate the distress these restrictions have caused, the local NHS must live within its means.

Couples experiencing difficulties in conceiving could still seek medical advice through their GP in the first instance, and while IVF funding is no longer available we would expect your GP to guide you on the alternative options available.

"The CCG has an exceptional clinical case process in place to review applications for exceptionality where patients do not meet the specified criteria.

"The patient’s GP or secondary care consultant could use this process to make an application if they believe the patient to be exceptional to the cohort of patients.”

MP Will Quince said: "It is grossly unfair. In certain parts of the country you can have three, two or one attempts but we are one of the few to get zero.

"Couple do not get the opportunity.

"CCGs were started so they could set local priorities but what has been created is a postcode lottery."