By Abigail Frazer
CANCER sufferers in Bolton are struggling to pay for wigs and hair supports after treatment.
That is the view of Charlene Wallis who supplies wigs from her of Diamond Dazzle Hair and Accessories supplies business on Bolton Market.
Ms Wallis says that she informs between three and five of her customers every day about how to get a wig or hair support post-treatment through the NHS.
She said: “Lots of people don’t even know that you can get a wig on the NHS.”
Although wig and hair support is free through the NHS in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, they are not in England.
NHS England wigs cost between £67.75 for a stock modacrylic wig and £262.45 for a full bespoke wig of human hair.
Ms Wallis regularly has to explain NHS exemptions to wig and hair support prescriptions to her customers, who have not been told during treatment.
Those exempt include people under the age of 16, aged 16, 17 or 18 and in full time education.
You can also get help is you are entitled to a valid NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate.
Ms Wallis said the recent case of Victoria Derbyshire talking about her own wig that she has used during treatment could help raise awareness.
She added: “Anybody that can do something like that will be greatly appreciated, especially if people are being shown how to put wigs on and maintain them.”
There are also charities that offer help to people who need support to buy wigs but are not eligible for exemptions.
The Little Princess Trust offers children real human hair wigs for free and for adults Macmillan Cancer Support offer one off grants for wigs.
For more information Macmillan run an drop-in session at Giles House, Bolton, every Tuesday and Thursday.
Full NHS Wig Prescription Exemptions can be found at www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/Pages/Wigsandfabricsupports.aspx
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