Every three to five years, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB review its clinical policies to ensure they reflect the latest evidence-based guidance and best practice. We are currently reviewing the following policies and would welcome your views on the proposed changes.
Please share your feedback by completing the short questionnaire.
This policy covers the supply of wigs for individuals who have lost their hair due to medical conditions or treatments.
The main change to policy is the broadening of eligibility criteria. The new policy would allow access to wigs for people with scarring alopecia or alopecia areata. This would mean more people are eligible.
The proposed policy states:
1. The ICB will commission wigs for the correction of hair loss associated with the following conditions:
a. Treatment for cancer
b. Severe alopecia areata with a SALT score1 of at least 50. (SALT is the Severity of Alopecia Tool. It is the tool accepted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to measure hair loss. A SALT score of 50 is regarded as severe for patients with alopecia areata.)
c. Scarring alopecia with a SALT score of at least 30.
d. Scarring of the scalp caused by trauma.
2. Funding will normally be provided for one device per patient. Replacements will be offered not more frequently than 2 acrylic wigs per annum OR once every two years for human hair wigs.
3. Replacements will be subject to assessment of continuing need. Wigs are funded as per the NHS tariff: https://www.nhs.uk/nhsservices/help-with-health-costs/wigs-and-fabric-supports-on-the-nhs
Please note this survey closes at midnight on Friday 26 December 2025.