NHS Mental Health Director Claire Murdoch has announced that the NHS has severed links with GambleAware as a result of concerns over the charity’s connections to the gambling industry.
The news came as the NHS announced details of two new clinics which would deal with the demand for gambling addiction services which is now at a record high in England.
According to Murdoch, the NHS needs to distance itself from an industry that uses ‘predatory tactics’ top target those most at risk of the harms of problem gambling. Murdoch feels that it is those tactics that are putting considerable strain on mental health services in England and the UK as a whole.
In an open letter Murdoch stated:
“Gambling addiction is a cruel mental health condition that can devastate people’s lives. It is also absolutely right that the NHS now funds these clinics independently, recognising the harmful effects this addiction can have, and that predatory tactics from gambling companies are part of the problem, not the solution.”
The latest figures from NHS England reveal that 668 people with severe gambling addiction issues were referred to gambling clinics between April and December of 2021. This represented a 16.2% increase on the same period in 2020 when 575 referrals were made.
Murdoch went on to reveal that the decision to severe ties with GambleAware came as a result of complaints received by both patients and doctors.
“Our decision has been heavily influenced by patients who have previously expressed concern about using services paid for directly by industry. Additionally, our clinicians feel there are conflicts of interest in their clinics being part-funded by resources from the gambling industry.”
GambleAware, an independent charity providing gambling addiction research and treatment services is entirely funded by donations from the gambling industry. In 2021, the charity announced a £100 million three-year funding deal with four of the UK’s largest gambling companies.
NHS England has had a ‘dual commissioning and funding’ deal with GambleAware in place since 2019. This deal saw the NHS receive £1.2 million per year that would go directly into the National Gambling Treatment Service. This funding was used to run clinics in London, Leeds, Manchester, and Sunderland and also helped fund a national helpline.
However, the new clinics announced by Murdoch will be entirely funded by the NHS following the authorisation of a £2.3 billion increase in mental health spending.
Ciaran has been working within the Gambling Industry as a deep analyst since 2019. His deep knowledge and understanding of all the gambling regulations, and processes makes him a true asset, and an always valuable point of view for Gambling Industry News, allowing us to cover every topics from a brand new perspective.