STACEY Donnelly’s heart sank when she heard a North-East hospital was dropping the fertility services which helped her give birth to twin boys.

On Monday it was announced the fertility clinic run by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation trust at the University Hospital of Hartlepool would no longer offer IVF, after an NHS review found it could not recruit enough staff to perform it safely.

Ms Donnelly, of Darlington, gave birth to twin boys Oliver and Isaac 15 months ago after visiting the Hartlepool fertility clinic.

She said she was “gutted” to hear IVF was being slashed and worried about how it would impact others trying for children.

She said: “[Having IVF] was a very testing time for us and personally my mental health suffered slightly because of my infertility.

“My fear is that the uncertainty and longer waiting times that are going to occur may contribute to this happening with others.

“I know a lady who was due to start her second cycle there, but now she’s left in limbo.”

Although she was happy the clinic had given her a shot at being a mother, she said was devastated for others who would not get the same opportunity.

“My heart sank because the place played a big part in our lives, as did the staff.

“I also feel sad for all the couples who haven’t yet had their chance there.”

She said staff at the Hartlepool clinic were “fantastic” and had persevered with treatment when her chances of falling pregnant looked bleak.

“Me and my partner Stephen had tried to conceive for around four years before the boys were born.

“I had tried other treatments, but unfortunately nothing would work other than IVF.”

Without the clinic, Ms Donnelly said she would not be a mother.

“If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t have the privilege of being parents.

“To me the place holds a lot of sentiment.”

Reacting to the cuts, medical director David Emerton said: “We understand that this decision will be disappointing for patients.

“We have made every effort for some time to recruit, however we cannot continue to provide all aspects of the current service safely due to an inability to recruit embryologists.”