After five decades of helping London-area residents become parents, one of the first fertility clinics in Canada is closing its doors.
The London Health Sciences Centre announced on Thursday its fertility clinic will shut down on March 31. All of the treatments previously offered there will be shifted to the Omega Fertility Centre - a new community clinic.
"I would personally like to thank the incredible team at The Fertility Clinic, for their dedication, compassion, and commitment to supporting individuals and families in our care,” said Children's Hospital President Nash Syed. “This legacy of care our patients received will be remembered for generations to come.”
The fertility clinic opened at the LHSC in 1972 and has since helped thousands of families grow using reproductive technologies including invitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), intrauterine insemination (IUI), donor insemination (DI), and fertility preservation and onco-fertility preservation. The decision was made to shutter the clinic after 50 years as the majority of fertility clinics nowadays are community based, allowing patients to access both ministry funding and self-pay for treatments. All OHIP funded fertility services will continue to be offered at the new clinic, the LHSC said.
When the Omega Fertility Centre opens at 373 Commissioners Road West this spring/summer it will be filled with familiar faces. According to the LHSC, the centre will be run by current hospital physicians and members of the obstetrics and gynecology department, including Dr. Basim Abu Rafea, Dr. Maggie Rebel, Dr. Jackie Hollett-Caines, Dr. Angelos Vilos, and Dr. Ali Mourad.
Patients who will be affected by the transition from the clinic to the centre on Commissioners Road West will be sent a letter within the next ten days.
"At this time, our health care teams are connecting with their patients to let them know of this upcoming change and answer any of their questions to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible,” said Syed.
