A fertility clinic has had its licence suspended after inspectors had “significant concerns”.

UK fertility regulator Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has suspended iTrust Fertility’s clinic in Eastbourne, formerly the South Downs Fertility Centre, following an inspection.

The authority said there could be a risk to patients if the licence was not suspended.

“The HFEA has suspended iTrust Fertility Eastbourne’s licence to operate with immediate effect, due to significant concerns about the clinic,” it said.

“In reaching its decision the committee was particularly persuaded by the number and serious nature of aggravating factors applicable to this particular centre, and in light of which the risk of harm to patients, gametes and embryos is significant in circumstances where non-compliances have persisted for such a long period of time without remediation.”

HFEA said despite the responsible person (PR) for the centre, in Alder Close, implementing remedial actions to comply with some of the concerns and recommendations raised previously, the authority said there are still “ongoing or recurring issues” and the evidence provided by the PR is “insufficient to provide assurance of non-recurrence”.

This was despite an “extraordinary degree of regulatory oversight” in the last two years and an “unprecedented level of support”.

HFEA said the PR failed to understand the requirements or standards they are expected to meet and there was a “failure to take responsibility for a significant prolonged history of non compliances”.

Of the 15 non compliances identified, only four are considered to have been addressed satisfactorily to date, said HFEA.

The HFEA committee noted that the centre’s history of non-compliances spans a period of time which pre-dated the current PR.

HFEA’s report said whistleblowers had raised concerns about the centre’s staffing arrangements.

An allegation received in February 2022, it said, detailed several concerns but was mainly focused on staffing levels, high staff turnover and morale at the centre.

HFEA said prior to the inspection it identified the centre had only one fully Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) registered nurse on staff and only one Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered embryologist, who was also working at a centre 53 miles away.

“The centre is not compliant with HFEA requirements to have suitably qualified and competent staff, in sufficient number, to carry out the licensed activities and associated services,” the report said.

It revealed that several incidents had occurred, including two involving a loss of gametes (reproductive cells) and several involving breaches of confidentiality.

“Critical” non-compliances included the PR not ensuring that procedures for documenting legal parenthood consent were robust and compliant with statutory requirements and HFEA CoP guidance.

There were also concerns about the tracing of imported sperm and several complaints received by the centre from patients had not been fully investigated, responded to, or had "appropriate corrective action implemented”.

iTrust was contacted for comment.