New figures have revealed the district is one of the worst places in the country to live to fertility treatment.

A ranking system, released by charity Fertility Fairness, show that the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is one of seven group's in the UK to offer no IVF treatment on the NHS, putting it in the lowest rank for fertility treatment.

The Mid Essex CCG stopped offering IVF free of charge in 2014 as a cost-saving measure.

Other Essex CCGs like North East Essex and Basildon and Brentwood were also in the lowest rank.

A spokesman for the Mid Essex CCG said: “The restriction on specialist fertility services was first put in place in September 2014 following public consultation and in response to the financial challenges faced by Mid Essex CCG.

“We understand that the decision was disappointing for some of our local population. Decisions to restrict services are never easy. We are constantly striving to ensure that our local communities have access to services they need and this has to be balanced against the money available to us.

“Unfortunately, our financial challenges remain and this year, 2017/18 will continue to be a very difficult year financially as we strive to find £23 million of savings to repay accumulated debt.”

Countrywide the number of CCGs offering the recommended three cycles of IVF treatment has halved in the last five years.

Susan Seenan, co-chair of Fertility Fairness and chief executive of patient charity Fertility Network UK, said: "This National Fertility Awareness Week we are commemorating 40 years of IVF, 40 years of a life-changing technology pioneered in England.

"However, that achievement means nothing if only those who can afford private IVF benefit.

"The Government should be ashamed that, after 40 years of IVF, it is your postcode and your pay packet, and not your medical need, which are the key determinants of whether you will be able to try IVF."