NHS doctors are set to ask patients about gambling habits as part of routine health checks under new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

The move aims to identify those at risk of gambling-related harm amid a sharp rise in referrals to NHS gambling clinics.

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The questions, which will also be included in the registration process for new GP patients, come as health services grapple with increasing demand.

Referrals to NHS gambling clinics have more than doubled in the past year, with health leaders describing the situation as an “uphill battle.”

Estimates suggest over one million people in Britain have a gambling problem, with one in 10 regular gamblers reportedly considering suicide, according to surveys.

Under the guidance, GPs are encouraged to ask direct questions such as, “Do you gamble?” and “Are you worried about your own or someone else’s gambling?”

These questions will be posed alongside standard queries about smoking, alcohol consumption, and substance use.

The recommendations emphasise the need to focus on groups considered at higher risk.

They include young adults leaving home for the first time, individuals with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD, and those on medications that affect impulse control.

NICE also advises GPs to consider gambling-related questions even when no apparent risk factors are present.

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Research from last year revealed that one in 40 adults in the UK may have a gambling problem – eight times higher than previous estimates.

A further 12 per cent gamble in ways that put them at heightened risk of harm.

The guidance calls for individuals to assess the severity of their gambling habits using an NHS questionnaire available online.

A score of eight or higher should prompt referral to a specialist NHS gambling clinic, while those with lower scores may still be directed to other support services.

Those identified as having a gambling problem will receive counselling on practical steps to quit, including advice on using gambling-blocking software.

Health leaders hope the proactive measures will stem the tide of gambling-related harm and help those affected get the support they need.

Professor Jonathan Benger, Nice’s chief medical officer, said: “Gambling-related harm has a devastating impact on those who experience it, and the people close to them.

“Our useful and usable guideline will help healthcare professionals and others to identify those needing help earlier and ensure they get the treatment and support they need.”

Since 2019, NHS England has launched 15 gambling clinics nationwide, including seven new facilities opened in 2024. These clinics are set to support up to 3,000 people annually.

Starting in April, casinos and bookmakers will be required to pay a levy designed to generate £100 million each year to fund support and treatment services for gambling-related harm.

Dr Claire Fuller, NHS England’s national clinical director for primary care, said: “We welcome Nice’s decision as gambling can have a massive impact on people’s lives and the lives of the people that care for them, and as healthcare professionals we need the right tools to help tackle gambling-related harms.

“Over the past few years, the NHS has made significant progress in expanding treatment for gambling addiction with the rollout of 15 specialist clinics across the country.

“So, if you’re worried about your gambling, there is support available, and you can directly refer yourself to your local NHS gambling clinic.”

Dr Adrian Hayter, medical director for clinical policy at the Royal College of GPs, said: “As GPs, we see the devastating impact that gambling-related harms have on our patients and their families, but compared with other addictions, the signs of problem gambling can be well hidden.

“We know that patients often only ask for help once gambling has already negatively impacted their lives and this Nice guidance aims to encourage people to discuss their issues around gambling with a trusted healthcare professional in a confidential space before their problems worsen.

“However, we have to acknowledge the constraints of a 10-minute appointment that is already too short to accommodate the increasingly complex needs of our patients.”

A spokesman for the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), said the “overwhelming majority” of British people who gamble “do so safely and responsibly”.

They added: “BGC members voluntarily contributed over £170 million over the last four years to tackle problem gambling and gambling-related harm, including £50 million in 2024, funding an independent network of charities currently caring for 85 per cent of all problem gamblers receiving treatment in Britain.”

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Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk

Southern Hemisphere Mining has nailed a crop of copper runs in last year’s drilling results at its Llahuin copper-gold-molybdenum project in Chile, topped by a 105m run at 0.64pc copper equivalent.

A shooting at a grocery store in northern Indiana has left three people dead, including the suspected shooter, and two police officers wounded, officials say.

Several WA lotto players will be planning their dream holidays after cashing in on Oz Lotto’s $70m jackpot.

A major jackpot has blown out to $100m after no division one winners were picked in Tuesday’s draw.

Australia’s economy might be hitting a turning point on the back of better household spending – but economists are warning more work needs to be done.

It’s bad news for households already smashed by cost-of-living pressures. New forecasts reveal Australians will have to wait another five years until their disposable income recovers to pre-COVID levels.

LILY Phillips claims she used extreme sex as a hobby while studying at university before filming her antics for OnlyFans.

The 23-year-old, who has banked over £2 million thanks to the website revealed the sex acts which have caused outrage online aren’t new to her.

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Lily Phillips sat down to discuss her sex hobby[/caption]

Instagram/@lilyphillip_s

Lily now earns millions from OnlyFans but many have been left outraged by her antics[/caption]

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Lily went to the US recently to make a name for herself across the pond[/caption]

Lily said: “So I’ve always been a massive w***e.”

“I started when I was at university and I was doing all this stuff off-camera anyway.

“Like, this was a hobby before it was work.”

While speaking on the Plug Talk podcast, Lily revealed that extreme sex acts were the norm for her even before starting OnlyFans.

Lily, who recently broke down on a documentary by filmmaker Joshua Pieters, shot to overnight fame after she bedded 101 males in 24 hours.

But she said sleeping with multiple men at once wasn’t new for her.

The host, Adam22, asked Lily if she had slept with more than one person at once before becoming a sex worker.

She replied: “Only like 10 or something like that.”

“It would just happen out the blue,” she explained after being asked if she had to organise them.

Plug Talk co-host Lena Nersesian was taken aback by Lily’s confession, saying: “Wow, you’re really built differently.”

Lily also revealed that she was almost banned from entering the US, having arrived the day before the podcast was recorded.

Lily, who previously admitted she “doesn’t know what self-respect is”, claimed officers ‘were asking if I was a prostitute.”

To this, she joked: “Depends who’s asking.”

She added: “I was very much, like, ‘Yeah, I sleep with all these guys, but they don’t pay a penny, so it’s not technically prostitution.’

Podcast viewers were left mortified by Lily’s admission.

One person wrote: “Built different = Gross.”

Another commented: “That’s just sad.”

“She’s dead behind the eyes,” penned a third.

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Lily was almost banned from getting into the country[/caption]

Meanwhile a fourth said: “She isn’t doing it money, neither for the fame. There is something more sinister going on.”

Someone else added: “I pity her.”

The influencer, who previously opened up about receiving death threats and faces a potential ban from Airbnb after using a rental for a sexual stunt without informing the homeowner, said she was 19 when she first officially joined OnlyFans.

She was a micro-influencer with 16,000 followers on Instagram at the time, and after getting bored of posting fashion hauls, Lily decided to pursue a career in the adult industry.

After joining OnlyFans in 2020, Lily, who now has 712,000 fans and left people gobsmacked when she begged women to “send husbands and boyfriends” to help her sleep with 1,000 men, explained: “I tried to sign up when I was 17, with my provisional ID, and it didn’t go through.”

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FOODIES have been left ‘disgusted’ after only just realising how bacon is actually made.

So if you’re a lover of pork and often look forward to tucking into a bacon sarnie on a Saturday morning, then you’ll need to listen up. 

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Foodies have been left horrified after discovering how bacon is really made[/caption]

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Whilst some were intrigued by the lengthy process, others vowed to never eat the salty meat ever again[/caption]

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It comes after a YouTube video of the bacon making process has emerged[/caption]

Whilst many of us enjoy the salt-cured pork snack and have it in anything from sandwiches to pasta dishes, lots of us haven’t got a clue how it’s really made.

But now, a video has resurfaced showing exactly how pre-cooked bacon is produced in factories – and it’s been an eye-opener for those who didn’t realise what went into the process.

Whilst some people were fascinated by the lengthy production and craved bacon even more, others were open-mouthed by the ‘gross’ process.

The clip from How It’s Made, which was originally shown on the Discovery UK channel in 2018, has reappeared on YouTube, detailing some of the more grim aspects of processed meat making.

In the five minute video, viewers can get a close-up look at how bacon, which is processed through a meat-curing process and sometimes pre-cooked in factories, is mass-produced.

First things first, large pieces of pork belly are tossed into a big tumbler, which softens them so it’s easier to remove the skin. 

They are then placed skin-side down on a conveyer belt, which takes them to a blade which slices the skin off. 

In a very detailed clip, viewers can see the pig skin flop onto the conveyer belt, before being moved along to make pork rinds.

After this, the pork belly pieces are flipped by a machine, so inspectors can remove any excess skin. 

Next is the curing process, which involves mixing salt and water until it’s fully dissolved, before adding liquid smoke and other flavourings.

Once the meat is back on the conveyor belt, the pork belly slices are injected with the curing solution with needles that repeatedly stab them. 

Following this, a metal hanger called a comb is then attached to the edge of the meat so it can be hung on a rack.

The stacks of hanging pork bellies are then transported to the “drench cabinet” so they can be showered with liquid smoke, which adds flavour and colour to the meat.

Once this is done, the meat is then ready to be transported to an oven, where it is cooked for five hours on low heat – allowing the flavours to permeate.

Then, when the bacon is cooked, it is moved to a blast freezer for a quick cool down, before going to another cooler for a few days, which makes it easier to slice.

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The stacks of hanging pork bellies are then transported to the “drench cabinet” so they can be showered with liquid smoke[/caption]

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The bacon is taken to the “sizing station”, where their sides get trimmed down[/caption]

But before this, the bacon is taken to the “sizing station”, where their sides get trimmed down, and the meat is also passed through a metal detector to make sure no pieces of the hanger have gotten stuck inside. 

After being stacked in the freezer, when the time comes, the meat slabs are put into chutes, which sway back and forth over a blade to cut them into slices.

But the lengthy process doesn’t end there, as the bacon strips then fall neatly onto a conveyor belt so they are ready for the browning microwave, which cooks off the bacon and sees the fat fall into a trough. 

Wow! This is a serious process!

YouTube user

After that, the bacon is checked by an inspector, who discards slices that aren’t up to the company’s standard.

Mechanic wheels are then used to roll the browned bacon slices onto parchment paper and finally, the bacon is stacked for packaging and ready to be distributed. 

Foodies react

While many social media users were left fascinated by the process, others were horrified to see how their beloved weekend treat was made.

I’m never eating bacon again

YouTube user

One person commented: “When you’re disgusted by the skin removal and fascinated at the same time.”

Another added: “Not gonna lie, the first part looked a bit gross.”

A third claimed: “I’m going vegan,” whilst another agreed: “I’m never eating bacon again.”

Not only this, but someone else chimed in: “God…That looks disgusting.” 

However, one foodie was stunned and questioned: “Who knew making bacon was so advanced?”

Meanwhile, another food lover beamed: “Wow! This is a serious process! No wonder bacon is so expensive.”

A SECRET Strictly romance has been revealed – and fans will likely go wild over the news.

Jowita Przystal is said to be “dating” a show finalist, with the stunning dancer, 30, rumoured to have grown close to the acting hunk.

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Jamie and Jowita were seen out and about last week[/caption]

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Jamie shot to fame playing the role of Jay in EastEnders[/caption]

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Jowita is a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing[/caption]

According to a new report, EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick, 30, and Jowita had a fling while filming the series towards the end of last year.

The pair initially met in 2023 when Jamie won the Strictly Christmas special, with them then hitting it off last autumn.

And as the pair embark on the Strictly Come Dancing Live! tour, it has been unveiled that they are still super close with the cast keen for them to strike up something more long-term.

MailOnline reports that a source has spilled: “Jowita and Jamie grew really close while filming Strictly.

“Things did get romantic between them, Jowita loves Jamie’s playfulness and sense of humour, not to mention he’s a very talented dancer.”

The source then touched on how there were so many rumours about Jowita and Pete Wicks, with his causing her relationship with Jamie to “go under the radar, which was something they laughed about”.

“They’re still enjoying each other’s company as they perform on the Strictly tour,” the source added, “with the cast believing their romance could well lead to something long-term.”

On the tour, Jamie is paired with Michelle Tsiakkas, with Jowita joining the lineup of professional dancers.

Throughout the last series, that saw Jowita paired up with Pete, rumours were rife that they were seeing each other.

CHEEKY HINT

Pete even cheekily referred to Jowita’s closeness with Jamie when she appeared on his Staying Relevant podcast.

Speaking to Jowita on the podcast, Pete said: “I have a question for you, I think I have asked you this before but you have to answer.

“You have to answer this. Don’t sit on the fence or do any of that crap, I want to know.”

He then said: “If you weren’t dancing with me, who would you want to dance with… and it doesn’t have to be who’s left, it could be people who have gone.

“Don’t sit on the fence, answer the f***ing question.”

Pete pressed: “If you couldn’t dance with me, who would you like to dance with? I know the answer to this… 100 per cent, Jamie.”

Jowita then replied: “Well probably. I knew him from the Christmas special and we get on very well.”

Pete added: “I said this to you at the weekend actually but you and Jamie would have been great, you get on really well with him and you would have had lots of fun with him and Jamie is a really good dancer, so cool.”

STRICTLY TOUR

Jamie and Jowita were pictured together last Monday in Sheffield after having a meal at Miller and Carter with the Strictly tour cast. 

The tour, which is packed full of arena show dates up and down the country, kicked off earlier this month in Birmingham at the Utilita Arena.

Sarah Hadland, reality star Tasha Ghouri, JLS singer JB Gill, EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick and opera singer Wynne Evans, are all part of the cast.

The X Factor winner Shayne Ward and Gladiators star Montell Douglas were also confirmed in the line-up.

The tour will continue until February 9 and the celebrities will be joined by a slew of professional dancers and the shows judges.

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Jamie won the 2023 Christmas special of Strictly, which is when he first met Jowita[/caption]

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Jowita joined the Strictly cast in 2021[/caption]