UK plans expansion of clinical help to problem gamblers

The new 10-year plan proposed by UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has proposed to expand treatment facility for people suffering from gambling problems.

At present, there is only one NHS clinic that treats problem gambling in the country: a London clinic, where treatment is facilitated by Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust. A second clinic is set to be opened in Leeds in April.

The newly launched ten-year NHS scheme promises to expand the coverage.

The plan document said the government “will invest in expanding NHS specialist clinics to help more people with serious gambling problems.”

It added: “Over 400,000 people in England are problem gamblers and two million people are at risk, but current treatment reaches only a small number through one national clinic.”

“We will therefore expand geographical coverage of NHS services for people with serious gambling problems, and work with partners to tackle the problem at source.”

Charity GambleAware has approved annual expenditure of up to £1.2 million for the development of the clinic in Leeds, as well as having supported the operation in London.

GambleAware chief executive Marc Etches said: “For the past ten years GambleAware has funded the National Problem Gambling Clinic at CNWL NHS Foundation Trust and, as a charity, we are immensely proud of how the clinic has demonstrated the contribution the NHS can make to the treatment of gambling addiction.”