Five year old Aaina Jassel is proof of the success of the Shrewsbury NHS Fertility clinic

Little Aaina Jassel is part of a select but growing group. For the five-year-old was born as a result of her mum Susan receiving IVF treatment at the Shropshire and Mid Wales Fertility Centre.

And together with other youngsters and their families, she helped the centre celebrate its 18th birthday. “It was a fantastic party,” said Mrs Jassel, who with her husband Harmesh, runs the village shop at Hadnall near Shrewsbury.

“We are very grateful to the centre. I think they do an amazing job.

“We had been trying for a baby for five years without success. There was nothing else we could do, other than fertility treatment. It was our last chance.

“The care we received was excellent. Everything was explained and because of the centre staff, I had a very good experience.

“It is such an emotional time but the support we received was unbelievable.”

It sometimes happens that once a woman has received fertility treatment and had a baby, she later conceives without a problem. This was the case for Mr and Mrs Jassel who now have another daughter, four-year-old Simran.

The centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has registered more than 7,000 patients, with the birth of over 3,000 babies since it opened in 1991.

Originally with a team of four, the unit now has over 28 dedicated specialist staff of doctors, nurses, scientists and administrative staff.

It is one of the most success IVF-assisted conception clinics in the UK, according to figures published by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

The clinic’s success rate of 39 per cent live births per completed IVF treatment, compares with a national average of 31 per cent.

Currently the centre is recruiting women to donate their eggs to help childless couples conceive.

By Dave Morris