NHS announces two new problem gambling clinics in England

The announcement comes after the National Health Service officially cut ties with the gambling industry-funded charity GambleAware.

UK.- Following its confirmation that it will no longer accept money from bodies directly funded by the gambling sector, the British National Health Service (NHS) has announced the opening of two new specialist problem gambling clinics.

The new centres will open in May in Southampton and Stoke-on-Trent. They join five existing clinics in London, Leeds, Manchester and Sunderland.

Meanwhile, the NHS has announced plans to create a Gambling Harm Network and Clinical Reference Group to consolidate expertise and allow clinical teams to share best practice.

NHS mental health director Claire Murdoch said: “Gambling addiction is a cruel mental health condition that can devastate people’s lives – our pilot clinics are already having a lasting impact in helping people to take back vital control of their lives.

“The opening of two new gambling clinics in May, as a part of our £2.3bn investment into mental health services, will mean we can help even more people with the most serious gambling problems.”

The NHS said that 668 people were referred to its gambling clinics between April and December 2021, an increase of 16.2 per cent year-on-year.

It said the North of England had the highest prevalence of at-risk gamblers, with 4.4 per cent of adults in the North West and 4.9 per cent in the North East at risk of addiction.

GambleAware has called for the introduction of a mandatory levy on gambling operators to fund problem gambling research and treatment in order to avoid the charity’s integrity being questioned. CEO Zoe Osmond has proposed a levy of one per cent on gross gambling yield.