We speak to Kuljit Moore-Juneja ahead of National Fertility Awareness Week

National Fertility Awareness Week runs from November 1 to 5 and aims to shine a light on what support is available for the estimated one in six couples impacted by fertility issues in the UK.

In total, 3.5 million people across the country are struggling with fertility right now and a campaign is poised to help signpost them to the right support – no matter what stage they have reached in their fertility journey.

Locally, the Sussex Downs Fertility Clinic, part of the iTrust Fertility group of fertility clinics, has been providing treatments and investigations for three decades. During that time, it has treated in excess of 7,000 patients and firmly established itself as a leader in its field. The clinic has above average success rates and has been in the local area for over 30 years now. The services it provides to both private and NHS patients have been so successful it has recently relocated and up-graded to a new purpose-built clinic in Alder Close, Eastbourne. For patients’ convenience, it has also satellite consultation services at a number of other locations in the Sussex area to make services more accessible in the region.

With an above-average success rate and a carefully selected team of 50 clinical and support staff, it is a major Sussex success story.

Formerly located at the Esperance Hospital and now at Alder Close, Eastbourne, the team is also excited to announce a further clinic in Kent, in a purpose built centre where local patients will also be able to access NHS and privately funded treatments. 

Under the new ownership the centres have benefited from massive investment in state of the art lab equipment plus attracting experienced specialists to the area in order to deliver a comprehensive service to patients.

Official figures reveal that the clinics achieve success rates of five percent above the national average across all age categories. This includes both per cycle and per embryo transferred as well as pregnancy rates and live births.

Sussex Business Times spoke to the clinic’s owner, Kuljit Moore-Juneja, and discovered fertility is not just about overcoming issues. It is also about offering people choices.

Kuljit, could you tell our readers about your background in pharmaceuticals and why you moved into fertility?

“My background has always been in healthcare and making a positive difference to individuals. From an early stage in my career I have always been drawn to management and leadership roles within health service delivery.  During my time in pharmacy I realised I wanted to apply my knowledge to other areas of healthcare and in order to make a difference I needed to be in a leadership role – a position with the ability to be involved in the decision making process. 

I moved into corporate management when I was at Boots and then ventured from there into dental care and from there into the NHS to grow and develop the fertility services for the largest fertility centre in the UK.

“Fertility came about for two reasons – my own personal experience with fertility and one of my previous roles in London. I was with a big NHS trust and they were struggling with private services and fertility – as well as other specialties. My role was to support the growth and development of this unit. It was fascinating to see how little knowledge there was out there about fertility and how much more we could do as a sector to educate and inform patients. That is where my passion grew and when I decided that this is what I want to do for myself. I knew I could do it well. That was in 2014.”

The Sussex Downs Fertility Clinic has been established for 30 years. Kuljit explained: “It was set up by the BMI as part of their Esperance hospital. They set up four or five across the country at the time. In 2018 BMI had a change of ownership and as part of this new ownership it was looking at its overall portfolio of hospitals and the Esperance was one of the hospitals that needed capital investment. A decision was made to sell the entire hospital site. 

“The fertility service was part of this site and BMI decided to sell it too. So I bid for the contract to buy the services and most importantly to carry on providing these service in the locality. 

Our bid was successful. The two other competitive bidders were bigger in terms of clinics but their aim was to close the service and run it as a satellite to their London clinics. Part of our success was our commitment to developing and growing the fertility services locally and investing in a new centre and staff.

You established the Sussex Downs Fertility Clinic in 2019, can you tell us about the facilities, what the clinic offers and the patients you work with?

“We offer treatment to anybody who is eligible, i.e. anybody who fits our criteria for treatment. The reason we have a criteria is so that we are not setting false expectations. We use evidence-based practice. Our inclusion criteria is based upon BMI (Body Mass Index) and age of patients because we know, beyond those limits, there is less chance of a successful outcome for patients. 

“We offer treatment to NHS patients – those who are entitled in Sussex and can get the funding. For private patients, those who want to pursue private funding because they are not entitled to NHS funding, we also offer a bespoke service.

The Sussex Downs Fertility Clinic is providing services that are clearly in high demand, with 1 in 6 couples now experiencing fertility difficulties. Can you tell us more about the facts, figures surrounding fertility and the importance for raising awareness?

“Declining fertility in England, as with almost all developed countries, is a growing issue – in part owing to people choosing to start a family later in life, along with other factors such as a 50 per cent decline in sperm count since 1970.

“I think it is lifestyle, stress and choices. Fertility services give choices to those who have thought ‘I am never going to have a child because I’ve tried naturally and it has not worked’. Our fertility service gives people the ability to make informed decisions and to access treatment where, possibly, it wasn’t as accessible previously. 

“The NHS funding also helps a lot of people access our fertility service.  Sussex is very fortunate to have the NHS funding it has. In Sussex the NHS offers funding up to the age of 39 or 40 for couples for up to two rounds of fertility treatment – if they are eligible. 

“I think it is great that people can access this funding. It has opened up possibilities that were not always available some 20 to 30 years.

“Additionally there is more confidence for single people.  This market is growing. Many women decide that they are not going to wait to find ‘the right person’ or are in a relationship and want to have a child right now because they are ready. 

“The treatment we offer is personalised for our same sex couples too. Everyones’ needs are individual and our services are built around their needs and their requirements. With the regulations changing and as the whole area of fertility becomes more ‘main stream’, patients are actively looking for the signposts on how to start their fertility journey.

The process is just much more easily understood now. It is always a good thing to have more information available to everyone. However it’s just as important that it is the correct information. That’s why we have launched the free ‘Ask The Experts’ sessions. 

“Then there other factors such as stress, lifestyle, career, finances and so on that often result in people starting families later. Fertility is one of those areas in life where technology, research and advances in medicine and science has given people much more choice and flexibility to decide: This is right for me in my life right now therefore why should I have to wait for the stereotypical path when I can make my own path? Our fertility services enable people to make those decisions when it is right for them.

On raising awareness about fertility services, Kuljit added: “Firstly, I would advise everyone to access services as quickly as you decide this is what you want to do. Remember age is always going to be a big factor. No one can avoid that. Biology is what it is, so anyone who is in their 30s, who hasn’t found ‘the’ person, or doesn’t want to have a child right now  – consider freezing your eggs. 

Seek out and use the advice that is available at clinics like us. 

In general there is not enough people talking about this option, but freezing your eggs, freezes time to a certain point and gives you choices. For those who may be thinking that it is something they want to do, don’t wait long – please speak to your doctor or see an expert.”

Fertility treatments are being added to some staff benefits packages, can you tell us about your thoughts on this?

“Recently a number of key employers, such as Natwest and Centrica, have included the cost of fertility treatments as part of their wider employee benefits package. This is something that I am passionate about. It gives people support and choice especially to career minded women who may not have thought about this.

“Fertility checkups and services should be available as part of a corporate benefit package. Once people are aware of their ‘fertility status’ then they can make decisions and choices. Of course, from an employer’s perspective offering this support helps avoid stress, anxiety and promotes well-being as well as raising awareness among employees. 

Businesses already offer health checks and eye checks. But what they don’t routinely offer to women (and men) is the chance to have the check-up that tells them ‘this is your fertility health right now and this is what it means for you over the next five to 10 years’.”

Kuljit refers to benefits packages offered to women between certain ages by big corporates and IT providers in the United States, and said fertility should be talked about much more.

She said: “I think the UK and Europe are behind in that sense.  There is a huge lack of support for those having treatment. The number of patients that we see who say ‘I have got to have an early morning appointment’ or ‘I’ve got to do it after work’ is astounding. How is this any different to having an eye test or having to see your GP or having a dentist appointment? 

“You could quite easily walk into an office and say you are going to be late tomorrow because you have got an eye test or dental appointment. How many of us can walk into the office and say they have got a fertility clinic appointment because they need treatment? There is still a stigma. 

“We have to move away from that stigma and make it okay – for both men and women. For men, (because on the whole treatment is mainly based around the woman) how many can come to work and openly say ‘My wife/partner is having fertility treatment and I need time off tomorrow to support her/him’?

“With Covid, many couples and single people who are going through fertility issues have been isolated from their support network.  The mental health impact is a very real one for fertility patients. Our clinics offer free counseling sessions to every patient and the feedback from this has been incredibly positive.”

With established clinics now in Bromley and the Sussex Downs Fertility Clinic in Eastbourne what are the future plans for growth?

“For the next 12 months our plan is very clear. It is about stabilisation of the two centres in Eastbourne and Bromley. We will focus on what we do and continue to do it exceptionally well. Keep up our success rates and positive patient outcomes, while supporting our patients through that journey. And then, let’s see what happens next. 

“The satellite clinic model is something that works really well. It makes our service and expertise accessible for both NHS and private patients. It is something that we will be looking at next for Kent with additional locations coming soon.”

For Kuljit and her dedicated team, bringing services closer to patients is about reducing stress and saving time. After all, having fertility treatment is already stressful enough. “Accessibility is important to all patients,” she said. 

To celebrate its re-location, the clinical team at Sussex Downs Fertility Clinic has launched a series of free ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions. These sessions provide an opportunity for anyone struggling with fertility to ask questions, get advice and support from leading fertility clinicians.  

Kuljit said: “When it comes to fertility, we know there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach, so that’s why we are offering these ‘Ask the Expert’ sessions. These sessions provide unfettered access to a wide range of fertility expertise, resources, services and support and are open to all, NHS or private.”

To book your free place email: marketing@thfg.co.uk 

With consultant-led services and a proven record of safe, effective care, the Sussex Downs Fertility Clinic has a well-earned reputation for excellence as part of its newly developed iTrust Fertility brand.

The success to date is a testament to how one woman combined her own experience of fertility and her skills to create a leading fertility services for Sussex and Kent. 

Now it offers real hope – not just those who have fertility issues but to those who want future choices.

Fertility Awareness Week runs from November 1. It sets out to challenge perceptions of what both fertility and infertility mean – to make the issue of fertility a topic everyone can feel empowered to speak out about

For more information visit www.thesussexdownsfertility.com

Telephone: 01323 410333

Email: marketing@thfg.co.uk