New gambling treatment clinics in England
The NHS expansion of gambling treatment clinics across England addresses unprecedented demand for gambling addiction support. This article explores the new facilities in Southampton and Stoke-On-Trent, existing gambling addiction help in London, Leeds, Manchester, and Sunderland, plus the shift to fully NHS-funded services. Discover how these gambling rehabilitation centres and rehab clinics are transforming treatment for problem gambling nationwide.
NHS gambling treatment clinics expand in Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, London, and Leeds
Two new gambling clinics opened in England this year, as the NHS faces up to record demand for specialist gambling addiction support.
Based in Southampton and Stoke-On-Trent, these new facilities take the total number of specialist clinics across England providing evidence-based treatment to support people with problem gambling to seven.
The other five are in London, Leeds, Manchester, and Sunderland, along with a national children and young person’s pilot clinic.
The north of England has the highest prevalence of at-risk gamblers, with 4.4% of adults in the North West and 4.9% in the North East being at the most risk of addiction. Between April and December last year, 668 people with the most severe gambling addiction issues were referred to NHS gambling clinics – up from 575 during the same period in 2020.
In February it was confirmed that the NHS would be fully funding its own gambling services from April, bringing the support in line with other NHS services. The decision followed feedback from patients and clinicians opposing the conflict of interest from the gambling industry, which generates profits of over £14 billion a year in the UK, in funding treatment for addiction.
Facts and stats on gambling addiction and NHS support across England
Research published by Public Health England estimated around 0.5% of the adult population, around 246,000 people, are likely to have some form of gambling addiction with around 2.2 million people either problem gamblers or at risk of addiction.
The NHS also recently launched a new Gambling Harm Network and Clinical Reference Group, to enable clinical teams to share best practices for helping to treat gambling addiction.
Back in January 2020, NHS MentalHS mental health director Claire Murdoch wrote to gambling companies outlining actions they should take to improve the odds for people struggling with addiction. Other than the restriction of bets taken by credit cards, implemented when the Gambling Commission outlawed the practice, the gambling industry continues to offer customers VIP packages and streams live sports, all of which can be potentially harmful to those struggling with addiction.
Finding the right support: accessing gambling treatment in the UK
As gambling addiction continues to affect thousands across England, understanding how to treat gambling addiction becomes crucial. From gambling rehab UK services to specialized VIP rehab programmes, individuals can access comprehensive gambling addiction treatment UK-wide. These gambling treatment centers and gambling rehabilitation centres provide essential support, ensuring everyone seeking rehabilitation for gambling has access to the best gambling rehab services available.
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