Gambling under the spotlight as part of UK parliamentary inquiry into public health
Sector highlighted as one of 10 area to be scrutinised by Health and Social Care Committee as part of research into improving ill-health and pressure on NHS
Gambling has been named as one of 10 key themes that will be examined as part of a major new inquiry into preventing ill-health in the UK.
The 10 themes were drawn up after MPs received more than 600 submissions from researchers and organisations involved in preventative healthcare ahead of the inquiry.
The Health and Social Care Committee are leading the inquiry to establish what more can be done in communities and daily life to improve preventative care, with a view to reducing the current burden on the NHS.
The act of gambling was related to 18 direct submissions as part of the selection process. In the submissions concerning the sector, there was an emphasis on the effectiveness of existing regulation as well as the role of the private sector in preventing gambling-related harm.
Gambling will come under one theme of the inquiry, which also includes including smoking, drugs and alcohol.
The remaining nine themes to be considered are: healthy places, vaccination, health inequalities, mental health and wellbeing, healthy eating and obesity, sexual health, early years and childhood, cancer prevention, and other major health-related conditions.
Steve Brine MP, Health and Social Care Committee chair, said: “While we can take action as individuals to stay well, the environment we live in has an enormous impact so what should a healthy place look like?
“This inquiry will be looking at a wide range of factors and asking what steps can be taken to prevent people slipping into ill-health.
“With health and social care services under extreme pressure, this is a crucial moment to identify what can be done to improve health outcomes for people in the longer term. I would argue the future sustainability of the NHS rests on us getting that right,” he added.