FERTILITY treatment funded by Wiltshire Health Authority has led to 14 women being able to conceive this year.

The In Vitro Fertilisation and sub-fertility treatment has been funded by an investment of £63,000 which has seen the birth of six healthy babies and eight other pregnancies.

Wiltshire public health director, Philip Milner, said: "We would like to spend more but we cannot afford it. This is, however, great value for money and a really worthwhile investment. At the end of the day it comes down to happy couples and happy babies."

The authority has compiled stringent guidelines to decide who should have to help with its limited resources. Suitable applicants are referred by their GP, or from the specialist units in Swindon and Salisbury, to the Bath Assisted Conception Clinic. While only a limited number of women can be treated, the expected successful birth rate is 29 per cent, well above the national average of 22 per cent.