Thirty-two patients lost embryos in Homerton fertility centre incidents

Homerton Hospital. Photograph: courtesy the Homerton

Thirty-two patients lost embryos in “three separate incidents” at Homerton Hospital’s fertility centre in the past year, it has been confirmed.

Last month, the centre had its licence suspended until May by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

The total number of embryos lost has not been revealed, but a BBC report suggested “as many as 150 could have been affected”.

“All patients impacted have been contacted, and some are still being treated at the Homerton,” said Bas Sadiq, soon-to-be chief executive of Homerton Hospital Foundation Trust (HHFT).

Sadiq was speaking at yesterday’s joint health scrutiny committee for inner north-east London.

Three investigations have been launched into the incidents. The first two reports have been given to Homerton Hospital but are currently unavailable to the public.

Representatives from HHFT are due to give an update of the findings to Hackney Council in June.

However, Sadiq said it may not be possible to keep to that timeline, “depending on what [the external investigators] find”.

She added that HHFT “will absolutely try and give something [to the council] if possible”.

Cllr Ben Hayhurst, who chairs Hackney’s own health scrutiny committee, said: “It’s important that there is transparency of the findings to restore the public’s trust in the fertility centre.”

Speaking in March, Sadiq said: “All patients have been offered counselling at no additional cost, and those affected have been offered the option to move their treatment to another centre.”