NHS England CEO Amanda Pritchard has announced that the organization will increase its gambling addiction clinics to 15.
The seven new clinics were born in the face of “record demand” for NHS gambling services. The NHS said the new clinics will be based in Milton Keynes, Thurrock, Bristol, Derby, Blackpool, Liverpool and Sheffield. Clinics are planned in addition to his eight existing centers.
The announcement comes as the NHS releases new figures showing the number of patients referred for help has risen sharply in recent years.
Data showed that 1,389 people were referred last year, an increase of more than 30% over the previous 12 months. This in itself has increased him by more than 80% compared to two years ago.
“Record numbers of people are coming to the NHS seeking treatment for gambling addiction, a cruel disease with the power to destroy people’s lives,” Mr Pritchard said.
“Responding to new medical needs”
NHS officials made the announcement ahead of the organization’s 75th birthday on 5 July. Pritchard said the move showed the NHS was “adapting to new medical needs”.
“In 1948, when the NHS was founded, you had to go to a bookmaker to place your bets, but now you can gamble on your mobile phone at the push of a button, making it easy for men and women of all ages to gamble. It is flooded with advertisements encouraging the Department.
“As it has done since 1948, the NHS has responded quickly and is rolling out seven new gambling addiction clinics across England, allowing more people to get help from the NHS when they need it. .”
The country’s existing gambling injury clinics currently see patients in Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and London. This will be in addition to an additional national clinic treating children and adolescents, also based in London.
NHS Gambling Addiction Clinic
The clinic combines cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, support groups and aftercare to treat people with serious addiction problems. Each center’s NHS team includes psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, mental health nurses and peer support workers.
The NHS said it plans to treat up to 3,000 patients nationwide across its network of 15 clinics, characterizing it as meeting its long-term planning promises six months ahead of schedule. there is
In addition to the new clinics, the UK is currently working through the process of updating its gambling laws. After several delays, the government recently released a white paper outlining some recommendations on how to “update for the digital age” the country’s gambling laws.
NHS Mental Health Director Claire Murdoch said: “Addiction is a cruel disease that destroys economies, destroys relationships and ruins lives, but if you or someone you know gambles… If you are in distress, the NHS will come to your aid.” If you have an addiction, come forward.
“While progress has been made in policing this multi-billion pound industry with a government white paper, further steps are needed to protect young people and future generations from being exposed to gambling ads while watching sport. I hope it will be taught.”
Murdoch has long been a critic of the gambling industry. In January 2020, she sent a series of letters to the head of the UK’s largest gaming company about the link between gambling and mental health.
number of problem gamblers
The NHS emphasized Gambling Commission Statistics This means that about 138,000 people in the UK, or 0.3% of the population, suffer from gambling addiction. There is some debate as to the accuracy of these figures, and some sources, such as YouGov polls, indicate that the figure could be as high as her 2.8 million.
The recently released NHS’s own England Health Survey 2021 showed that the prevalence of gambling problems fell to 0.4%, higher than the figure recorded by the Commission for the same year.
As a result, the European Commission is currently engaged in a reform process for hazard investigation methods, with the latest milestone of the project completed in April.
NHS backs statutory levy
The White Paper on Gambling includes, among other proposals, imposing a statutory tax on the profits of the gambling sector to fund research, education and treatment services. This measure will replace the sector’s current voluntary contributions.
It was rumored to be set at 1% of income before the document was released, but the Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport chose not to commit to a specific figure. Instead, it opted to allow the final numbers to be determined at a later date in consultations with the government and industry.
Last month, the NHS said it supported the measure. Henrietta Boden-Jones, NHS England’s National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harm, stressed that the levy would help ensure independent funding for the programme.
Public Health Minister Neil O’Brien said: “Through our white paper, we have taken decisive action to address gambling-related harm, including ensuring that gambling operators pay their fair share of the cost of treatment services. , including our commitment to introduce statutory levies.”
