FOR Sarah Dewick, from Walthamstow, the news that she wouldn't have to pay for her own fertility treatment came as a shock. Everything from acupuncture to the IVF process itself was covered by the global tech company for which her partner, Victoria Welch, 38, works. In addition, they were both able to take paid leave to attend medical appointments. "When we found out about the fertility benefits, our jaws just dropped," says Sarah, 36. "We couldn't believe our luck as we were already thinking about starting a family."
The couple, who weren't eligible for treatment on the NHS in their area at the time, saved almost £30,000. "It's a crazy amount and paying for it ourselves would have really stretched us," she says.
It marks a change in how employers are using family support to attract talent, spearheaded by big corporates in London such as Apple and Meta. A new Standard poll on what matters to Londoners when it comes to their fertility has found that such workplace policies are now at the top of the wishlist.
As part of fertility survey, a huge 92.1 per cent told us that companies should offer IVF leave. Seven in 10 (69.8 per cent) would consider freezing their eggs to help with money worries and to free up more time to focus on jobs, but only 6.8 per cent have actually been able to do so, while 91.3 per cent felt that fertility testing should be available on the NHS.
It's perhaps no surprise, with couples starting families later, and many treatments not available on the NHS due to postcode lotteries and Covid delays. According to the Fertility Network UK, 3.5 million people (one in six couples) are now affected by fertility issues.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 02, 2023-Ausgabe von Evening Standard.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der November 02, 2023-Ausgabe von Evening Standard.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Are you ready for medieval-core?
No one was more surprised than medieval armourer Matthew Finchen.
Worth the wait This is a beautifully written triumph
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's first novel since 2013's Americanah is a winner
Low-budget indie film Anora wins big at the Oscars
“The more Hollywood changes, the more it remains the same,” writes Ty Burr.
Forget the Trump noisepeace could now be possible
There's much to fixate on, but it's best to judge the President on the substance
Is it the final call for the Heathrow villagers?
Life with the residents whose homes could be destroyed if a third runway touches down
The Fat Badger, London's first invite-only pub
A riotously fun boozer that doesn't officially exist? No wonder celebs are secretly flocking here
Marlon James on why Kingston is Jamaica's beating cultural heart
Whether it’s parties, patties or patois, this Caribbean capital is a non-stop celebration, says the Booker Prize-winning author
The London socialite. His aristocrat killer. And a mother's search for justice
The brutal, ketamine-fuelled killing of a public schoolboy shocked the world. In our new true-crime podcast, we tell the real story
“Last year's Festival was brutal, but we're ready to put it right”
The Guinness Village is, to Cheltenham racegoers, something of a field of dreams.
Me, Marrakech and I: How to ace a solo female trip
I first visited Marrakech with my then-boyfriend in 2004, when I spent my days getting lost in the labyrinthine souks and witnessing snake charmers hypnotise cobras. Over 20 years later, I decided to see how it fared for females going it alone.
