NHS Northern Gambling Service reaches one year anniversary

The NHS Northern Gambling Service is marking its first year of operation today and over 400 patients.

The NHS Northern Gambling Service, one of only two dedicated NHS resources for those harmed by gambling, and the only one outside London, is marking its first year of operation today (18 September 2020).

In a tumultuous year in which Covid-19 lockdown restrictions led to a significant increase in online gambling with new data showing that nearly 5 million British people have experienced harm linked to gambling, the Northern Gambling Service has provided free, confidential and effective treatment for over 400 people harmed by gambling and those struggling with gambling addiction across the North.

From its initial clinic in Leeds, and two subsequent clinics in Manchester and Sunderland established in 2020, the service led by the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has reached over 400 clients, with 50 completing treatment so far.

The service has 18 clinicians and support staff across its three clinics, and includes psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, and mental health nurses. The clinics also have experts by experience – people who have recovered from gambling addiction.

Clients using the service have described the treatment and clinicians delivering the therapies as ‘life-changing’ and ‘giving back control’ to other existing gambling services that they have previously accessed support from. In the most recent Friends and Family survey, 93% of respondents said they would be extremely likely to recommend the service, 7% likely and no respondents said they would not recommend the NHS Northern Gambling Service.

Consultant Psychologist Matthew Gaskell is the Clinical Lead for the NHS Northern Gambling Service. He said: “What we, our team and our clients have achieved in 12 months is truly amazing.

“From a starting position of no formalised NHS treatment for the millions of people harmed by gambling in the North, we have delivered a truly Northern service with our three clinics reaching those who desperately want a life changing intervention.

“Lockdown has been hard, both for those with existing gambling problems and those with hidden problems which have surfaced throughout these difficult times. We know from evidence from our clients and wider research that lockdown created a surge of activity in online casinos and gambling sites, leading to increased gambling and the subsequent money, stress and family issues that go along with gambling.

“Lockdown was hard for us as well – quite rightly many NHS resources, including our fantastic team of clinicians and support staff, were redirected to support the Covid-19 effort. This meant we had to limit the number of referrals and client intake but as we enter our second year we are working at full capacity and are ready to welcome hundreds of new clients to the Northern Gambling Service.”

Like many of his fellow sufferers, Peter Collins found this year to be especially tough. From Leigh in Greater Manchester, Peter had started gambling in his early teens and had been gambling for over 40 years.

“In the last ten years my gambling had taken control of me rather than me controlling it,” he said.

“I was closing myself away, losing my confidence and my self-esteem. I was spiralling into a state of depression – and to make matters worse, I started drinking more as well.

“It was becoming a marriage made in hell, the gambling and drinking fuelling each other. I had sought help in the past but I was in denial of the state and severity of my problems and so nothing worked for me.

“At my darkest hour, I saw that the Northern Gambling Service was opening a clinic in Salford and I took one last roll of dice and got in touch.

“The team was amazingly welcoming, putting me at ease and almost immediately we were going into depth about my troubles. And I was opening up for the first time, not only to someone else but to myself.

“Since that first meeting in March, my life has been transformed. I am 28 weeks abstinent, my confidence has returned, my family are thrilled and I am discovering new things in life – I am in control.

“Without the team at the Northern Gambling Service I hate to think where I would be right now.”

Peter was treated in the Manchester clinic, one of the three run by the team of 18 specialist clinical support providers across the Northern Gambling Service.

Clients using the service get support through psychological therapies, addiction treatment programmes, mental health treatment, family therapy and peer support from those whose lives have already been adversely affected by gambling. The service also offers dedicated support to family members and carers of those affected by problem gambling.

References  

  1. Gambling Addiction Survey May 2020

A YouGov survey of 16,000 people estimated that up to 2.7% of adults in Great Britain, or nearly 1.4 million people, were problem gamblers. The report also found that as many as 7% of adults, or 3.6 million people, report having been negatively affected by someone else’s gambling problem. As reported by The Guardian in May 2020.

NHS Northern Gambling Service: how to access this service

The NHS Northern Gambling Service works closely with a range of people and organisations including GPs, local councils, NHS trusts, national and local charities, Citizens’ Advice, the criminal justice system, debt agencies, substance misuse services and homeless agencies.

One of our core values is that “any door is the right door” which means people can be referred in via a number of routes no matter where they are or who they are receiving help from. People can also self-refer.

You can get in touch with us directly to enquire about accessing our services by:

The NHS Northern Gambling Service is hosted by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust which provides specialist mental health and learning disability services to the people of Leeds and across the North of England. Visit: www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk.