Welsh minister for mental health and wellbeing Sarah Murphy today (25 February) announced a new NHS specialist gambling treatment service and helpline set to launch 1 April, funded through a £1.3m [$1.8m] contract.
The NHS body chosen to run the new helpline is Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, an organisation that has been in the highest level of intervention – special measures (level 5) – since 2023. The Welsh Tories have previously called for a public inquiry into the board.
Special measures were first put in place in 2015 after a report noted institutional abuse at a mental health unit run by one of the board’s hospitals.
