928 patients needed wigs

ALMOST one thousand patients with cancer and other conditions prompting hair loss were referred by the Western Trust for wig fittings over the past five years, it’s been revealed.

By Kevin Mullan

Published 16th Feb 2013, 18:05 BST

Between April 2008 and December last the Western Trust has referred 928 clients for wig fittings.

The amount of referrals per year varied from 246 in 2010/11 to just 90 the year prior, 2009/10.

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone asked the Health Minister Edwin Poots how many people with conditions that cause them to suffer hair loss have been referred for wig fitting in each of the last five years.

The Minister said his Department did not collect the information centrally but had requested the data from local health trusts.