Hypocrisy of NHS ‘Addiction Levy’ for UK Gambling
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Owain Flanders thinks an addiction levy for UK gambling firms would be hypocritical given the NHS rejected GambleAware cash.
NHS clinicians demand a new multimillion-pound statutory ‘addiction levy’ based on the principle of “polluter pays”. Prof. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, director of the National Problem Gambling Clinic, and Dr. Matt Gaskell, clinical lead for the NHS Northern Gabbling Service, are united in their calls for such a levy. They have also asked for anew independent health board to tackle gambling addiction.
NHS mental health director Claire Murdoch wants to cut ties with gambling addiction charity GambleAware by April 1. She claims that patients don't want to benefit from the sector that donates millions to Gamble aware voluntarily each year. The NHS needs to provide the money through an addiction levy. Last year, the industry donated $45.7m to the charity.
Murdoch opposed a statutory levy for gambling addiction treatment. Murdoch believes the NHS should fund itself independently. NHS is trying to place itself on the right side of public opinion. The government is making its hypocritical stance on gambling industry clear. The most important aspect of the debate is effective treatment of gambling addicts.
