22 It’s taking a gamble
Resolution submitted by the RCN Health Visitors and Public Health Forum
That this meeting of RCN Congress believes that the relaxation in gambling legislation will impact negatively on public health and calls on RCN Council to lobby government to amend the legislation
- Work led by the Public Policy Committee
- Lead RCN Council member: Cate Woolley-Brown
Gambling is a popular activity and whilst most people gamble for fun and pleasure, gambling also brings with it the potential for personal and social harm. Problem gambling can have a significant impact on people's lives, including their physical and mental health, employment, finances and interpersonal relationships. There are also possible co-morbidities associated with gambling, such as depression, alcoholism and compulsive-obsessive behaviours. These issues were debated at Congress 2007, when delegates expressed serious concerns about the relaxation in gambling laws.
In 2007, the BMA published a report, Gambling addiction and its treatement within the NHS: A guide for health professionals, that aimed to raise awareness of problem gambling and included recommendations on how some of these problems could be addressed. For some time there has been concern that health care services for gambling addiction and its associated conditions in the UK is rarely available on the NHS, and is more commonly provided by private and charitable organisations.
However, many nurses work with patients suffering from addictive behaviour and engage with those who are serious gamblers. The RCN is developing a community network in collaboration with members who work with people suffering addiction to alcohol, substance abuse, as well as problem gamblers. The RCN is also working with members to develop brief intervention guidelines that will support members and nurses working with these groups. This guidance will be finalised after a fringe event at Congress 2008. The RCN website will continue to be a resource to members and will signpost members to other supportive information and organisations.
The British gambling prevalence study, published in September 2007 by the National Centre for Social Research, indicated that 99 per cent of adults who gambled did so harmlessley but that there were still 250,000 'problem gamblers' across the UK. The development of gambling super casinos was reveiewed by the government in the summer, and a policy u-turn has stopped the proposed development of super casinos.
The RCN is committed to monitoring developments across the UK, particularly within the context of a major review of mental health services in Northern Ireland, and wider public health initiatives seeking to tackle health inequalities. It has also highlighted within the media, and at a political level, the significant nursing contribution to addressing addictive behaviours.
The RCN will continue to raise the issue of gambling and its impact on health at every opportunity, through government consultations, evidence submitted to health select committees and lobbying activity. This action applies to all UK governments for changes in implementation of the 2005 Gambling Act, especially in relation to the protection of children and vulnerable people, the impact of addiction on families, and the social costs of these behaviours.