The Local Government Association
(LGA) and campaigners are calling for urgent
action to tackle the exploitation of vulnerable
people through ‘patient brokering' in England's drug
and alcohol treatment sector.
Patient brokering involves individuals or
organisations receiving financial incentives for
referring patients to specific
private addiction rehabilitation centres, regardless
of whether it is in the best interest of
the clinical needs of the patient.
Many organisations provide high-quality addiction support
but a rise in unregulated private providers has created
opportunities for unethical practices to flourish. The
practice can lead to inappropriate placements, inflated costs,
and compromised care outcomes.
The latest figures published today show that the number
of adults in contact with treatment services
for drug and alcohol misuse in 2024/25 was up
by six per cent on the previous year.
This increase sees the highest number of adults in
treatment since records began, suggesting there are
more vulnerable people at risk of being exploited by unethical
patient brokering practices.
The LGA, which represents councils responsible for
public health, is warning the
practice risks exploiting vulnerable
people, risks long-term harm for those seeking
recovery, and undermines public confidence in
addiction treatment services.
Anyone seeking help for drug or alcohol issues is
encouraged to contact their local council, GP, or
trusted services such as FRANK or the
NHS for free, confidential, and impartial
support.
The LGA is urging the Government to take decisive
action to:
- Introduce legislation banning patient brokering and imposing
penalties on those who engage in
or facilitate it.
- Create a single registered online gateway for the public to
access professional addiction help.
- Support and resource local
authorities to raise awareness and
safeguard individuals from exploitation.
- Promote community, NHS and charity-led services,
which operate under strict ethical guidelines and offer
person-centred care, ensuring efficient use of public
funds.
Cllr Dr MBE, Chair of the
LGA's Health and Wellbeing Committee, said:
“Patient brokering is a deeply concerning and
unethical practice that puts profit before patient
wellbeing.
“Vulnerable individuals seeking help for addiction deserve safe,
ethical, and clinically appropriate care, and not to be
treated as commodities at one of the most vulnerable points
in their addiction recovery.
“We must protect the integrity of our addiction treatment system
and ensure that adequate safeguards are in place so
that every person seeking help is met with
dignity, compassion, and respect.”
Evelyn McKechnie, Campaign Director at EMCAT,
said:
“We support the LGA's call for a ban on patient brokering and
welcome their focus on the wider risks posed by unregulated
referral practices in the addiction treatment sector. When
financial incentives influence where people are referred for
treatment, it creates a conflict of interest that can compromise
care and public trust.
“The risks go beyond private referral networks, brokers are
increasingly prevalent in trusted public-facing spaces, including
online platforms and community resources, where vulnerable people
turn in crisis expecting impartial help.
“This issue highlights the need for a clear, centralised gateway
to addiction treatment - one that people can turn to with
confidence. Public-facing resources should remain free from
commercial pressures and centre around transparency, clinical
integrity, and the needs of the individual.
“EMCAT looks forward to the progress from the LGA, in ensuring
that people seeking help are directed toward safe, ethical, and
regulated care - supported by a system that puts the public
interest first.”
Dr Will Haydock, Executive Director of Collective Voice,
said:
"Our member organisations work hard with local authorities across
the country to ensure that treatment for substance use issues -
including access to residential placements where appropriate - is
available across England.
“We do not work with brokers - and there is no need for people
facing issues with substance use or their families to do so
either. These organisations add no value to the system, but sow
confusion by targeting people at their most vulnerable moments,
directing them away from the support that is freely available in
their local community, funded by their council."
Notes to Editors
- Local councils are responsible for commissioning
drug and alcohol treatment services as part of their public
health responsibilities.
-
Collective Voice is
the alliance of charities that provide drug and alcohol
treatment and recovery services in England.
