"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.

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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

"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

"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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