HELP FOR U.K. PROBLEM GAMBLERS

25 July 2008

NHS clinic opened in Soho, London


British gamblers with a gambling addiction problem will be treated free in a new National Health Service clinic recently opened in Soho, London, The Independent newspaper reports this week

The new Soho Problem Gambling Clinic has been tasked with treating people referred from across the country and specialises in problem gamblers with "co-morbidities".... patients whose gambling addiction is accompanied by acute mental health problems such as depression or anxiety.

"It has caused a lot of excitement because it has made people think about whether we should have more of these types of clinics around the country," said Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, an expert in treating gambling addictions who manages the Clinic.

Government is treating the clinic as a pilot scheme operated by the Central and North-West London NHS Foundation with funding predominantly from the gaming industry's Responsibility In Gambling Trust, an independent body set up five years ago to channel donations from casino operators and bookmakers back into addiction and awareness programmes.

Adrian Scarfe, Head of Clinical Services at Gamcare, supports the project and told the newspaper that bringing problem gambling into the NHS service was a step in the right direction.

"Virtually all the work that is being done to combat gambling addiction is done through the voluntary sector," said Scarfe.

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