The NHS has opened a new gambling clinic in Sheffield this week,
meeting the ambitious NHS Long Term Plan target with 15 services
now available across the country.
Amid growing demand for services, the opening of the new clinic
in Sheffield means that the NHS has now almost doubled the number
of specialist clinics available in the space of a year within
England.
The Sheffield clinic joins existing problem gambling services in
London, Milton Keynes, Thurrock, Bristol, Derby, Liverpool,
Blackpool, Preston, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton,
Stoke-on-Trent, and Telford – seven of which opened in the last
year.
The NHS national clinic opened in London in 2008, and treats
patients over the age of 13.
Up to 3,000 people a year are expected to be treated in the 15
clinics and people can either self-enrol to a service or can be
referred through GP teams.
While patients can get support from various excellent charities,
our clinics will provide those coming forward with specialist
teams which include clinical psychologists, therapists, mental
health practitioners, psychiatrists, and peer support.
NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard, said:
“Gambling addiction is a cruel disease which has the power to
destroy people’s lives, and as referrals continue to rapidly
increase for these services, it is right that we increase the
support available in line with demand.
"The opening of the new NHS gambling clinic is a significant
milestone and amid record demand for help, it is timely for
patients who desperately need this vital treatment.
"The £1billion gambling industry which operates 24/7 is
becoming more addictive, and with mainstream sporting events
driving increasing numbers to problem gambling, it’s now more
important than ever that people have access to treatment that
adapts to their healthcare needs.”
The opening of Sheffield’s clinic is part of a record £2.3
billion national investment into mental health services.
NHS mental health director Claire Murdoch
said: “Gambling can have a debilitating impact on
personal relationships, your finances and severely damage your
mental wellbeing.
“Although progress has been made on clamping down on this
billion-pound industry with the Government’s White Paper, I hope
further action can be taken to protect our young people and
future generations from being bombarded by gambling advertisement
while watching sport.
“If you’re worried about your relationship with gambling, please
come forward to our clinics by self-referral or speak to your GP
practice.”
Public Health Minister said: “Gambling can
have a devastating impact on people’s lives and the dangers of it
can often go unseen until it’s too late.
“The opening of the new NHS gambling treatment clinics will
ensure those experiencing harm are able to access the right
treatment and support at the right time.
“We are making huge progress by doubling the number of specialist
clinics available in just one year in England – meeting our
ambition in the Long-Term Plan and ensuring every region of the
country can access these excellent services.”
National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms, Professor
Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE, said: “Having founded
the first ever NHS clinic to treat gambling disorders in
2008, I am grateful to NHS England for having taken on the
expansion of treatment delivery to cover the whole of the
country.
“We can now say there is no postcode lottery to treating gambling
and all can benefit from evidence-based treatment to tackle this
destructive illness which harms not only individuals but also
their families.”
Around 138,000 people could be problem gambling according
to Gambling
Commission figures, with around a further 1.3 million people
engaging in either moderate or low-risk gambling –
although other
research estimates that this figure could be even
higher.
The annual estimate of suicides associated with gambling is
around 400, and a recent report revealed that 55,000 children
between 11 and 16 have a gambling problem, and a further 99,000
are classified as “at risk” gamblers.
