Sue Avery, scientific director at the Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridge, whose founders developed IVF, agreed only a few would choose to go through IVF who did not need to.

BBC: IVF 'fastest way to get pregnant'

The initiative has been warmly welcomed by Mike Macnamee, chief executive of Bourn Hall Clinic - based near Cambridge - which was established by IVF pioneers Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards.

BBC: Pledge on free NHS IVF treatment

"Bob Edwards is one of our greatest scientists, " said Mike Macnamee, chief executive of Bourn Hall, the IVF clinic Edwards and Steptoe co-founded, in the statement.

CNN: IVF 'co-pioneer' Robert Edwards dead at 87

"Bob Edwards is one of our greatest scientists, " said Mike Macnamee, chief executive of Bourn Hall, the IVF clinic founded by Prof Edwards with his fellow IVF pioneer Patrick Steptoe, a gynaecological surgeon.

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"It was always the dream of Steptoe and Edwards when they established Bourn Hall as the world's first IVF clinic, that treatment would be available to all who needed it, " he said.

BBC: Pledge on free NHS IVF treatment