To ask the Minister of Health (i) to provide an update on his Department's work to establish a regional policy and specification for the future supply of wigs being undertaken alongside the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust; and (ii) to detail the engagement undertaken with the Procurement and Logistics Service as part of this review.

The provision of wigs is managed by each Health and Social Care Trust in line with their responsibilities for ensuring that patients have access to appropriate medical devices in line with their clinical needs, and that contracts with suppliers deliver safety, quality and value for money. This involves developing appropriate specifications and procuring the necessary products and services required to fulfil these responsibilities.

As such, my Department does not set policy or specifications for individual medical devices, rather it is the case that these Trust processes are guided by relevant procurement and effective use of resources policies.

However, I am aware that Trusts have encountered significant and persistent barriers, far beyond routine operational challenges, in developing a specification for wigs. These issues have effectively prevented a regional tender from progressing and have forced Trusts to consider alternative, less‑than‑ideal approaches in recent years. The difficulties stem from wide variation in patient needs, inconsistent supplier offerings, and the absence of any recognised framework or standard to define quality, suitability, or value for money.

My Department is continuing to support Trusts to develop a consistent Regional Specification for wig provision. This work seeks to bring greater alignment and clarity across the region and to generate momentum on an issue for which, regrettably, there is no perfect solution.

(ii) There have been various engagements with the Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS). This has included discussions to understand the implications of previous procurement challenges, to explore feasible procurement routes once a specification is agreed, and to ensure that any future tender process is compliant with public procurement requirements. Further engagement with PaLS will take place as the regional specification develops and options for procurement are refined.

In the meantime, each Trust maintains its own arrangements for wig provision through contractual arrangements with existing wig providers to ensure patients continue to receive appropriate support.