NICE recommendations to NHS GPs are a welcome step towards preventing gambling-related harm
Calls for health professionals in the UK to start asking their patients more routine questions about gambling-related harm have been welcomed by members of EPIC’s team who have previously sought NHS support over the issue, highlighting that it will complement existing harm prevention initiatives by increasing the number of mainstream conversations about the issue.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – the body that produces useful and usable guidance for the NHS and wider health and care system in the UK – has recommended that healthcare professionals ask people about gambling at health checks and GP appointments.
Bringing gambling in line with other potentially addictive activities, NICE are advising that the discussions should take place alongside conversations about smoking and alcohol consumption, with the advisory body detailing the issue of ‘gambling-related harms’ as ‘the term used to describe the negative impacts of gambling on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities, and society’.
The bedrock of EPIC’s approach is to provide insight into gambling harm from the perspective and informed insight of lived experience, with around half of the company’s workforce having experienced problem gambling in various forms.
As such, many members of the team who deliver education, consultancy and training services to members of at-risk sectors can recount first-hand experience of engaging with the NHS regarding the issue, and are well-placed to understand the potential impact of the new recommendations.
“It’s welcome news because it’s another helpful way of breaking the stigma and getting people to talk about their gambling, and can help to complement the other fantastic services that already exist to address this issue,” explained Andy Margett, programme coordinator (pictured).
“It’s evident that there’s still work to do in raising awareness of the treatment services that are out there. This initiative from NICE can hopefully help to educate the wider healthcare system by joining the dots on the money that is being spent on existing treatment centres
“When I was seeking help nearly two decades ago, I know that my issues were something that my GP wasn’t overly familiar with, and gambling-related harm clearly wasn’t high enough in the public consciousness at that time for them to recognise it as a genuine health concern in the way it is becoming accepted now. Extra emphasis on how to address this issue is welcome progress.”
Dan Spencer, principal consultant, also engaged with NHS healthcare providers regarding comorbidity of various mental health concerns alongside disordered gambling, and is positive about the proposal for a greater emphasis on early detection of harms stemming from gambling.
“I welcome the discussion and guidance around GP screening,” he explained.
“The earlier we can understand the impact on individuals that are related to gambling, the better and more effective help they can receive.
“We are lucky enough to have several options for early intervention and treatment in the UK, however we will always see people using their local GP as a ‘first port of call’. General practitioners should be trained specifically around mental health disorders such as gambling disorder and be ready to diagnose as well as signpost for specialist treatment.
“I see screening as a ‘missing piece’ when it comes to prevention strategy. Where symptoms of ill mental health are described, we should be asking about financial wellbeing and exploring reasons why that has occurred.”
