Alopecia UK, supported by a number of professional bodies, has published a Charter for Best Practice for NHS Wig Provision. The need for this Charter comes from years of hearing the challenges that many in the alopecia community face when trying to access wigs via the NHS, particularly in England. 

Alopecia UK believes there should be fair access to wigs for people with alopecia and the Charter makes three recommendations to NHS decision-makers, namely:

1. All NHS Trusts/Health Boards set up a ‘Best Practice wigs policy’ so that all people with alopecia, who need and want a wig, can receive wig prescriptions or vouchers in a way that is as easy and timely as possible, whilst reducing pressures on secondary care

2. All people with alopecia, who need and want a wig, should be offered the right number of wigs for their condition based upon the support they need, and how and when they wear wigs.

3. All people with alopecia, who need and want a wig, should be offered a suitable choice and quality of wigs, whatever their race, natural hair colour, age and preferences, and be supported with face-to-face consultations with a wig supplier.

In addition to the Charter above, based upon our research, dialogue with patients, healthcare professionals, and wig manufacturers, Alopecia UK recommends that best practice is up to 4 x synthetic fibre wigs per year or one human hair wig per year, but an absolute minimum of 2 x synthetic wigs per year.

We have a new page on our website dedicated to the Charter, providing not only the full charter document but also template letters to help our community advocate for NHS wig provision in their local area. 

Visit our Charter for Best Practice for NHS Wig Provision page here 

Our Trustee Lynn Wilks who has been leading on this piece of work has also written a blog post in which she shares her thoughts and experiences. You can read that here.