Links
Here are some useful links that people have asked us to list, Surrogacy in the UK, Other Organisations, Groups and Government Bodies.
Please note C.O.T.S. does not sanction any of these external links and cannot be held responsible for any of their content. Should you find a link that isnt working please email us with details to kim@surrogacy.org.uk.
Counselling
BICA Accredited counsellors are recognised by the HFEA.
https://www.bica.net/find-a-counsellor
Adoption & Fostering
Breast feeding your child
La Leche League GB
Website http://www.laleche.org.uk
National Breast Feeding Helpline
Website http://www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/
Cancer Support
Cancer Research UK
Website http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/
Daisy Network
Early Ovarian Failure Support Group and Endometriosis.
Website http://www.daisynetwork.org.uk/
Childbirth
National Childbirth Trust
Website: https://www.nct.org.uk/
Active Birth Centre
Website http://activebirthcentre.com/
Birthchoiceuk
Website http://www.which.co.uk/birth-choice
Conception & Kits
SME Fertility
Ovulation & Pregnancy Kits etc.
Website http://www.sme-fertility.co.uk/
Babystart Ltd
Website https://babystart.co.uk/
Medisave (UK) Ltd
Website http://www.medisave.co.uk/
Government Bodies
British Medical Association
BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP Telephone: 020 7387 4499 - Fax: 020 7383 6400 Website http://bma.org.uk/
Department of Health
Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS
0207 210 4850 (line open from 10.00 to 17.00 Monday to Friday).
Website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Paxton House, 30 Artillery Lane, London E1 7LS
Tel 0207 291 8200 (line open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday) Fax: 0207 291 8201 Website http://www.hfea.gov.uk/
Surrogacy Act
Some links on the HFEA site that may be of interest - Section 27/28/29/30 regards surrogacy
HFEA ACT 1990 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/37/contents)
Section 27 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/37/contents#mdiv27)
Section 30 (http://www.surrogacy.org.uk/pdf/section30hfea.pdf)
Children's Act (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/contents)
Surrogacy Act (http://www.surrogacy.org.uk/pdf/Sur-act.pdf)
Independent Midwives
Independent Midwifery UK
Website: http://www.imuk.org.uk/
Infertility Support Groups
Fertility Friends
Website http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/
Infertility Network UK
http://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/
Insurance
Life insurance for surrogate mother's. Single policy for Two year for at least £500,000 on life. If you can afford it please add critical illness cover. Please make sure that the policy is set in place before any attempts at inseminations/transfers take place.
Sovereign Finance
Website http://www.sovereignfinance.org/
Aviva
http://www.aviva.co.uk/insurance/
Maternity Rights
Childrens and Family act new information (includes new maternity rights and pay information)
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-children-and-families-act-2014-gains-royal-assent
https://www.gov.uk/legal-rights-when-using-surrogates-and-donors/maternity-leave
Additionally a surrogate can get advice through the ACAS Helpline which is the official organisation that helps resolve issues
between employees and employers. http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2042
Medical Tests
The Doctors Laboratory
58 Wimpole Street, London W1M 8LQ
Telephone +44 (0)20 7307 7373 - Fax +44 (0)20 7307 7374
Website http://www.tdlpathology.com/ Email tdl@tdlpathology.com
For all medical tests required by COTS ie HIV etc. + DNA testing
DNA Diagnostics Centre
Non Evasive Pre Natal DNA Testing
http://www.dna-bioscience.co.uk/prenatal-testing.php
Miscarriage/Recurrent Miscarriages
Miscarriage Association
http://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
Legal Support
Please note COTS cannot recommend one solicitor over another. Please check their fees before proceeding.
For the writing of wills any local solicitor can be used. Parental Orders do not always require a solicitor, it's your choice entirely. Surrogacy Agreements are unenforceable by law so no solicitor required for them either.
Almond Wills
Telephone: 0843 886 5767
Email: enquiry@almondwills.com
Very reasonable fees.
Freeths LLP is a firm of solicitors providing specialist help and advice to parents and parents-to-be. We guide our clients through all of the legal issues around domestic and international surrogacy, fertility treatment and donor conception.
http://www.freeths.co.uk/legal-services/individuals/family-law/surrogacy-law/
A City Law Firm
64 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4HB
Tel: 020 7426 0382
Contact is Andrew Spearman
https://acitylawfirm.com/practice-areas/child-law/surrogacy/
Mills & Reeve
Two Specialist Contacts
Amy Starnes tel 0207 648 9256
email: amy.starnes@mills-reeve.com
Rose-Marie Drury tel 0161 235 5443
email:rose-marie.drury@mills-reeve.com
Stowe Family Law. Are the largest family law firm in the UK with 18 offices all over the country, Bethan Carr is based in their Winchester office in Hampshire. She can travel or do meetings over Skype/telephone etc. She is the specialist contact for surrogacy.
Tel is 01962 850408 email is bethan.carr@stowefamilylaw.co.uk. https://www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk/children/surrogacy/ her profile is https://www.stowefamilylaw.co.uk/team/bethan-carr
Fiona Lyon: Partner & Head of Family Law- London Region, , 0345 357 9490,
Office Address: 16 Upper Woburn Place, Euston, London, WC1H 0AF
-Paul Hicks: Solicitor, , 0345 357 9661
Office Address: Broad Quay House, Broad Quay, Bristol, BS1 4DJ