Guidelines said all couples should be offered one cycle from April 2005

Until the U-turn, Hampshire's 10 PCTs had treated in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) therapy as a low priority.

This was despite John Reid, the then Health Secretary, saying all women aged 23 to 39 should be offered one cycle.

Fertility groups have criticised the PCTs' new policy because only women aged 36 to 39 will receive treatment.

Women reaching their 40th birthday before July are being fast-tracked.

The decision was made following a review on the provision of infertility treatment across Hampshire.

To deny couples access to treatment until they reach almost 40 is cruel and unfair Clare Brown

Funding had previously been denied to all couples after a series of meetings between the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority and the 10 PCTs which it is responsible for.

Trusts were then left to make their own decisions based on guidance and legal advice and couples who had begun treatment were allowed to continue.

Dr Martin Ashton-Key, who chaired the review of IVF funding across Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said a fast track had been put in place for women turning 40 in the next six months, who were born "on or after 31 December 1965 and on or before 31 July 1966".

He said women within this age range had been having referrals for IVF since 31 December 2005.

All other eligible women aged 36 to 39 would be able to commence treatment from 1 April 2006.

Further review

The new guidelines would be reviewed again before the end of the year.

But the review has only been partially welcomed by fertility groups, who said the age range of the women eligible for treatment falls far short of government guidelines.

Clare Brown, chair of the National Infertility Awareness Campaign, urged the PCTs to reconsider their criteria.

She said: "Whilst we are pleased that the Hampshire PCTs have taken steps to review their position, we are very concerned about the eligibility criteria they have applied.

"To deny couples access to treatment until they reach almost 40 is cruel and unfair."

John Reid announced in February 2004 that all couples should be given one free cycle on the NHS.