Patient brokering occurs when individuals or organisations receive financial incentives to refer patients to specific private addiction rehabilitation centres, regardless of whether the placement meets the patient’s clinical needs. While many providers deliver high-quality addiction support, a rise in unregulated private services has created opportunities for unethical practices to flourish. These practices can result in inappropriate placements, inflated costs, and compromised care outcomes.
New figures show that in 2024/25, the number of adults accessing treatment services for drug and alcohol misuse rose by six per cent compared to the previous year. This represents the highest number of adults in treatment since records began, highlighting the growing risk of exploitation through patient brokering.
The LGA, representing councils responsible for public health, warned that patient brokering undermines trust in addiction treatment, endangers vulnerable individuals, and can cause long-term harm for those seeking recovery.
Anyone seeking support for drug or alcohol issues is advised to contact their local council, GP, or trusted services such as FRANK or the NHS, which provide free, confidential, and impartial assistance.
The LGA is calling on the Government to take decisive action, including:
- Introducing legislation banning patient brokering and enforcing penalties for offenders.
- Establishing a single registered online gateway for the public to access professional addiction support.
- Supporting local authorities to raise awareness and protect individuals from exploitation.
- Promoting community, NHS, and charity-led services, which operate under ethical guidelines and deliver person-centred care, ensuring efficient use of public funds.
Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor 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, not to be treated as commodities at one of the most vulnerable points in their recovery. We must protect the integrity of our addiction treatment system and ensure that safeguards are in place so that every person seeking help is met with dignity, compassion, and respect.”
