Home » OCW News » September 2009 » Clinic Opens in UK to Treat Problem Gambling

Clinic Opens in UK to Treat Problem Gambling

Date published: 22 September 2009

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Although the UK is one of the most liberal countries in the world with regards to legalized and regulated land and online gambling, its liberal gaming policies are contributing to a rising number of problem gamblers, which is why the CNWL National Problem Gambling Clinic was launched.

Earlier this month the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust launched the National Problem Gambling Clinic in Soho, London, which is designed to treat problem gamblers from the age of 16 and over who reside in England and Wales. It offers a wide range of services and treatments.

These include assessing the needs of problem gamblers, and those of their respective partners and family members, followed by interventions, if required, and the necessary treatments. The National Problem Gambling Clinic also provides assistance with financial, social, relationship and employment issues.

What makes the National Problem Gambling Clinic so remarkable is that it is the first clinic of its kind in the United Kingdom and is funded completely by the nation's National Health Service (NHS). This means any citizen residing in the UK with a gambling problem can use the clinic's facilities for free.

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As such, it has been equipped with all manner of health care professionals including consulting psychiatrists, psychologists, a family therapist and a debt management specialist. The head psychiatrist at the clinic is Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, who is optimistic that the clinic will be asset to UK problem gamblers.

'The National Problem Gambling Clinic offers a unique treatment package to address the difficulties common to problem gamblers, said Dr Bowden-Jones. 'Due to the nature of their addiction, gamblers' finances are often in poor shape, so the treatment also deals with debt management and employment issues.'

'In addition, we address the needs of clients' partners and family members who have been affected by their gambling problem as well as any coexisting mental health conditions which includes depression,' she said. The Clinic can be accessed by self-referral or referral by other UK agencies or organizations.