§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the conditions attaching to the prescribing of wigs for patients receiving chemotherapy treatment; [79908]
(2) what conditions his Department attaches to the prescribing of wigs for (a) in-patients and (b) day-care patients receiving chemotherapy treatment. [79907]
113W
§ Mr. HuttonA wig may be provided as part of National Health Service treatment if it is considered to be clinically necessary. As with the supply of medication, patients will qualify for free wigs if they are hospital in-patients.
Day patients or out-patients may qualify for full or partial exemption from charges on income grounds. If patients are in receipt of Income Support, Disability Working Allowance, Family Credit or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, they will be entitled to wigs free of charge. People who are not automatically exempt from charges may claim help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. We have no current plans to review these arrangements.