Would-be-mothers fighting for better publicly-funded fertility treatment have claimed a victory over NHS managers in Sutton and Merton.

The area’s Primary Care Trust has been forced into a u-turn having initially spurned an offer of free treatment from specialists at a world-leading fertility clinic based in Raynes Park, amid drastic cuts to IVF provision in the borough.

Last week, the Wimbledon Guardian reported how a pledge to provide NHS patients at the Create Clinic with two IVF cycles, for the same cost as a single cycle offered at St Helier Hospital, was being denied due to NHS red-tape.

But the trust has since offered to support the clinic’s attempts to gain the adequate Department of Health accreditation needed to take patient referrals following pressure from the borough’s two MPs - Siobhain McDonagh and Stephen Hammond.

In the last year, two attempts made by Create to gain NHS Sutton and Merton’s agreement for the centre’s inclusion on an NHS “choose and book “ list were ignored.

Wimbledon MP, Mr Hammond, said: “I’ve spoken to both sides and hopefully the situation will be now be fully resolved, giving couples in Merton the best chance to raise a family.”

Professor Stuart Campbell, founder of the Create Clinic, said: “This is a real break through. We were being overlooked but this represents a major change in attitude for which we’re enormously grateful.

“This could make a vital difference to many women hoping to have children in Sutton and Merton.”

A spokeswoman from NHS Sutton and Merton said the trust’s director of finance would be contacting Create to assist in the process of gaining the relevant accreditation.

She added: “If Create would like local people to choose their IVF service they will need to be accredited by the Department of Health (under the Free Choice Network). NHS Sutton and Merton will support them in the process for application, where that is required.”