Woman denied permanent birth control on NHS wins case with ombudsman

A woman denied a permanent form of birth control on the NHS over fears she might regret it, while men were allowed contraceptive procedures, has won her case with the health ombudsman. Leah Spasova, a psychologist from Oxfordshire , spent a decade fighting to obtain female sterilisation at her local trust, a procedure that blocks or seals the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy. By contrast, men can undergo a vasectomy, a procedure that stops sperm from being released. She was refused the sterilisation procedure on the NHS, with her local trust citing concerns about potential regret and cost-effectiveness. Spasova challenged the decision, taking her complaint to the parliamentary and health service ombudsman, who hears complaints about the NHS in England . The ombudsman has issued a critical ruling against the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West integrated care board (ICB), which had denied her funding. Female sterilisation, or tubal ligation, is a surgical procedure that involves sealing, cutting or blocking the fallopian tubes to prevent eggs from reaching the uterus. It is usually performed under general anaesthetic via keyhole surgery and requires a few weeks of recovery. In contrast, a vasectomy is a minor outpatient procedure, typically carried out under local anaesthetic in under 30 minutes. …