Minister visits Northern Gambling Service in Leeds

Andrew Gwynne, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention recently paid a visit to the Northern Gambling Service (NGS) clinic in Leeds.

During his visit he met representatives from the NGS including Dr Matthew Gaskell, Head of NHS North-East Yorkshire Gambling Service and Leeds and York NHS Partnership Trust representatives Dr Rachel Barcroft, Clinical Psychologist, Daniel Hall, Operational Manager & Psychotherapist, David Rowley, Head of Operations and Jon McGowan, CBT Therapist.

The NGS, which is part of Leeds and York NHS Foundation Trust comprises of the North West Gambling Clinics and the North East and Yorkshire Gambling Clinics.

Speaking in conference with the Minister, Daniel Hall said, “We have a very good success rate at the NGS, with around 90% of service users leaving us gamble-free, but we cannot treat ourselves out of this problem. We need to address the cause and focus on prevention.”

The Minister was keen to hear how services are delivered and what specific challenges gambling addiction faces compared with other forms of harm.

The Minister was informed that the NGS had seen referrals leap from 800 a year in 2023/24 to a projected 1,400 plus in 2024/25. “Gambling addiction is a hidden, shame-ridden problem that is not visible in the same way that drug or drink additions are recognised. It is not yet as socially unacceptable as the other two, but it is causing widespread harm across society, said David Rowley”

The NGS has clinics in Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle, Liverpool, Preston and Manchester and takes referrals from right across the north of England.

Page last updated: 16th Oct 2024 2:59pm