The Cardiff Assisted Reproduction Unit (CARU) was opened at the University Hospital of Wales in 1988 as the first IVF clinic in Wales. It grew from an ovulation induction and donor sperm clinic, gaining the support of the Welsh Office, to provide firstly a GIFT service and then IVF. A superovulated Intra uterine insemination service followed, enhancing the donor treatment. Over the intervening years, sperm storage for oncology patients, egg donation and surrogacy have been introduced. The unit began as one of the few NHS clinics in the UK, but soon realised that many couples were either not eligible for NHS treatments, or had exhausted their limited entitlement, so the self funded programme was launched - which allows couples to access the same high standard of treatment without waiting lists and delays.
The CARU team developed strong links with the research team specializing in Infertility and Reproduction at Cardiff University, a link which developed over the next 2 decades, looking at ways to increase chances of pregnancy in infertile couples.
In May 2006, CARU was awarded the ISO9001 Quality Management System accreditation, one of only a few Units in the UK and the only infertility service in Wales to achieve this high standard of practice at that time. To be awarded this the team had to develop systems and processes to ensure that the standard of care offered is consistently the best achievable. The quality management system includes internal and external audits to evaluate and constantly improve services. In addition the team has identified key performance indicators to monitor treatments allowing us to act quickly if results fall below set standards.
New methods of treatment are constantly researched and evaluated and if appropriate, incorporated into working practice. Most importantly the IVFWales team actively encourage patient feedback regarding services offered allowing us to identify key issues important to you and to subsequently act on these. All these processes are essential in trying to help you make the best decision about your care in the fast changing and often confusing world of Reproductive Medicine.
With the arrival of the new Embryology team and the subsequent award of ISO9001 in mid 2006 came a new team vision. With these successes along with increased pregnancy rates and the offer of new fertilty treatments, the department was granted £1.4 million by the NHS trust to further develop the programme as a centre of excellence and relocate the team to purpose built premises on the first floor at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff (October 2007).
With so many changes taking place and the 20th anniversary of the fertility program being just around the corner the decision was made to accompany the new vision with a fresh face and a new name. IVFWales was born.
We recently celebrated our first 20 years with a party welcoming back many of the families that have had treatment with us.