New NHS Funding Scheme Leaves UK Gambling Harm Charities in Financial Crisis

Many UK gambling harm charities are facing severe financial troubles, and even potential closure, as funds from the country’s National Health Service (NHS) have dried up due to a recent strategy change.

NHS Makes Controversial Move Regarding Funding Gambling Harm Charities

The NHS informed applicants of its funding decisions for gambling-harm treatment late on March 31, only hours before the new statutory levy took effect on April 1. Under the revised funding structure, around GBP 120 million (about $150 million) in mandatory contributions from gambling operators will be allocated across research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm.

Responsibility for commissioning and distributing these funds is divided among three bodies: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for research, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) for prevention, and the NHS for treatment.

Some third-sector sources said they were astonished that the funding decisions were finalized only hours before the April 1 deadline, leaving charities with virtually no time to adapt. One such organization is Deal Me Out, whose CEO, Jordan Lea, said that the process had been disorganized and unprofessional. Lea said it was not a good start for the system or an encouraging sign for the future, describing the situation as “mind-blowing.”

Many industry professionals raised concerns about the overall strategic rationale behind the decisions of the funding commissioners and questioned how the new system was intended to function cohesively. Matthew Hickey, former chief executive of Gordon Moody, explained that he struggled to see how the system operated from a strategic standpoint. He further added that it raised the question of what exactly the commissioning decisions were based on.

Just a couple of years ago, the NHS seemed to have a much more concrete strategy for handling the nation’s gambling-related health issues. One way it did so was by opening a new clinic in Sheffield, following a considerable increase in demand for it.

Organizations Still Have Many Questions

One charity that was unsuccessful in securing funding from both OHID and the NHS said they were unclear about their next steps. The organization received minimal feedback from the NHS and no indication of which applications had been approved. They added that this uncertainty left them in a difficult position when it came to referring service users, as they did not know which charities had ultimately been awarded treatment funding.

Another treatment organization said they did not know where to signpost service users and described feeling deflated when the news arrived shortly before 5 pm the previous day. More broadly, critics questioned the overall strategic rationale of the funding commissioners and how the new system was intended to operate cohesively.

Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the only controversial movement the UK government has made regarding gambling harm treatment. A recent launch of a new statutory levy to fund gambling harm services has raised concerns among charities and support groups over the clarity of the new rules.