In an open letter penned to the responsible gambling group, GambleAware, the mental health director of the National Health Service announced that it will be halting collaboration between the two entities from April this year.
The NHS and GambleAware have been working together for the past three years to set up clinics to treat gambling addiction across the country.
However, NHS director, Claire Murdoch said that patients have expressed their concerns about the using clinics that are funded by GambleAware, which operates from money donated by the gambling industry itself. Patients and employees at these clinics feel that there is a conflict of interest.
As such, Murdoch said that the NHS would be switching to using general funding to support the clinics.
Continued Collaboration
But while collaboration will halt on treatment clinics, Murdoch said that the NHS would still continue working with GambleAware to develop a treatment system that could help those with gambling problems.
“The NHS cannot address the harms caused by gambling alone, nor is it the NHS’s job to tackle this on its own,” said Murdoch. “We are therefore committed to maintaining a constructive operational relationship with GambleAware as this change is implemented and continuing to work together on developing a treatment system that is fit for purpose.
“We are very grateful to GambleAware for the funding that you have provided over the last three years, which has allowed us to roll out treatment services faster than would have otherwise been possible.”