A decision by NHS Surrey to reinstate funding for IVF patients has been welcomed by a leading infertility charity.

The board decided to defer requests for IVF back in 2010, as it worked to curb a £35m deficit and make savings of £125m.

They agreed to continue with treatment that had already started, but stopped taking new IVF referrals in December 2010, in a round of cuts that included deferring care for smokers until they had completed a course to kick the habit.

They agreed to review the decision within a year and announced this week that IVF funding would be reinstated from April 2012.

Anne Walker, chief executive NHS Surrey, said: “This decision was undoubtedly very tough for the people affected and it’s not a decision we took lightly.

“While there was unanimous agreement that the restrictions currently in place should be lifted, there was also serious debate about what we could afford financially, presenting the board with a true dilemma.

“After long and hard consideration, the outcome was that the board gave their absolute commitment to reinstating specialised assisted conception, including IVF, from April 2012.”

Patients will still need to meet all of the usual criteria when it is reinstated on April 1, which means for some it will be too late.

Clare Lewis-Jones, chief executive of charity Infertility Network UK, said: “We are absolutely delighted NHS Surrey has reversed its decision to suspend funding for IVF treatment.

"However, we feel for those patients who, while funding was suspended, reached the upper age limit of 40 for the female and therefore are now no longer eligible.

"It is heart-breaking for them.

"I would urge Surrey NHS to ensure that both GPs and patients are informed of this decision as quickly as possible so that arrangements can be made sooner rather than later given the impact of age on success rates.”