A woman who was refused fertility treatment by the NHS because her husband already has a child has said she feels “let down” by proposals for new eligibility criteria.

Sarah Curtiss, 30, from North Hykeham, suffers from polycystic ovary syndrome and spent years trying to have a baby.

After being refused free IVF, she campaigned to change the guidelines on who can access treatment in the East Midlands.

The new proposals, which follow a review, maintain the step-child rule, although NHS bosses insist no decision has been made.

Ms Curtiss helped launch a petition in 2021 and called on local health boards to “update their outdated policies”.

“The policy needs to be changed so that it is fairer to families as a whole,” she said.

“I deserve to be a mom as much as anyone else.

“To not have this opportunity just because my partner chose to have a life before he even met me is absurd and it’s not right.”

Eighteen months ago, Mrs. Curtiss good news of a planned exam of fertility policy in the East Midlands.

There are five comprehensive care boards providing fertility services, and currently most policies require that neither partner have living children. The revision aims to create a single policy for the entire region.

Ms Curtiss previously said she had received assurances the stepchild rule would be removed.

However, she said she felt “disappointed” and “disappointed” after reading the proposed updated guidelines.

Ms Curtiss, who is now pregnant, said she would continue to fight for other in-laws who needed support to have a child.

“On the contrary, this pregnancy stimulated me,” she said. “Knowing that I’m going to become a mother is a magical experience and I want others to feel that feeling.”

A spokesperson for the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board said: “We are aware of the strength of feeling around fertility treatments and any proposals made about them, and that is why we are asking people to complete our survey and share their views, which will feed into the final policy.

“It is important to emphasize that although we have presented a proposal, no decision has been made.”

Listen to the highlights of Lincolnshire on BBC Soundslook at it latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should cover here.