Event Overview

Join us for this FREE webinar focusing on the latest gambling harms research and shared lived experiences from patients.

Did you know that gambling is a serious public health issue that can affect anyone? Up to 1.5 million adults in Great Britain are experiencing problem gambling and those negatively affected by someone else’s gambling are estimated to represent at least 3.6 million people in England, Scotland and Wales*.

Gambling can cause negative effects on people’s health and wellbeing. These include financial difficulties, breakdown of relationships, mental and physical health problems, and sadly in some cases, suicide. Harms are often experienced not just by those who gamble, but by friends, family and wider society.

There is a significant unmet need with respect to engaging people experiencing gambling harms. Patients present at a late stage in their illness often due to the lack of knowledge of healthcare professionals in identification, assessment and treatment of gambling harms. Increasing awareness of gambling harms amongst healthcare professionals is key to patients and affected others accessing support and treatment services. Gambling has often been referred to as a “social or moral problem”.  As GPs we play a pivotal role in supporting patients overcome the challenges posed by societal misperceptions and stigmatising mindsets by raising awareness and improving access to services.

Join us on Tuesday 4 June as we bring together a panel of experts from the sector of gambling treatment. We will share the latest research into gambling harms, share lived experience from patients and answer your questions and signpost you to up-to-date resources, including the RCGP Gambling Harms Hub. You will be able to put your questions to our panel of gambling treatment experts in our Q&A session.

Learning Objectives

  • Learn how to become a Gambling Harms accredited practice.
  • Encourage healthcare professionals to improve their knowledge and skills in identification of patients experiencing gambling harms
  • Raise awareness of the support and treatment services available to increase the number of patients accessing support and treatment in a timely manner
  • To be aware of the GP eLearning produced by the RCGP

Who should attend?

Medical practitioners in the primary care setting, including but not limited to:

  • GPs and practice nurses
  • Clinical pharmacists, Social prescribers, Health and Well-being Coaches and Care Co-ordinators
  • Non-clinical staff including managers.

Speakers and panellists

  • Professor Dame Clare Gerada, Medical Director of the Primary Care Gambling Service and former RCGP Chair and President
  • Dr Emma Ryan, RCGP Clinical Champion for Gambling Harms and GP Partner of the Primary Care Gambling Service
  • Steven Papi, RCGP Gambling Harms lived experience advisor
  • Ruth Champion, Director of Systems Commissioning, Gambleaware

* [1]https://www.begambleaware.org/sites/default/files/2023-07/GambleAware%20Treatment%20and%20Support%20Report%20July%202022.pdf

This webinar has been facilitated with the support of GambleAware.