The NHS has opened a second gambling addiction clinic in the Midlands amid record referrals.

The Derbyshire clinic joins seven other gambling addiction clinics that will open this summer as NHS services face record demand.

There are approximately 6.5 million people in the Midlands who gamble, according to The Health Survey for England. Approximately 414,000 of these people are participating in harmful gambling.

It is estimated that for every person experiencing harmful gambling, on average, between six and ten additional people are directly affected by it. This equates to approximately 2.5 – 4.1 million people in the Midlands.

Ahead of its 75^th birthday on Wednesday 5 July, the NHS is adapting to new healthcare needs and rapidly expanding the support services for thousands of problem gamblers.

There are already eight gambling harms clinics in England, which includes one  in Stoke-on-Trent, as well as an additional national clinic, which treats both gambling and gaming addiction in children and young people.

The East Midlands Gambling Harms service, which is based in Derby, will provide specialist therapies, treatment and recovery to those affected by gambling addiction and gambling problems in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland.

The free service will be provided by a team including clinical psychologists, therapists, mental health practitioners and psychiatrists as well as experts-by-experience – people who have recovered from a gambling addiction themselves.

Paul Sanger, East Midlands Gambling Harms Service Manager, said: “The team is pleased to announce the launch of the East Midlands Gambling Harms Service, to provide support and treatment to those individuals who are experiencing gambling problems across the East Midlands region.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to work as one of a number of gambling services now in operation across the country in line with the NHS Long Term Plan”.

Giles Tinsley, Programme Director for Mental Health at NHS England in the Midlands, said: “Gambling addiction is a cruel mental health condition that can devastate people’s lives. The opening of a second gambling clinic here in the Midlands means that we can help even more people”.

The NHS plans to treat up to 3,000 patients a year across the clinics in England, fulfilling the NHS Long Term Plan commitment six months ahead of schedule.

The East Midlands Gambling Harms service is now accepting referrals and individuals who are concerned about their gambling can refer themselves or ask a health professional to make a referral for them.

If your gambling is causing problems for you or your loved ones and you’d like to stop, further support and treatment is available.

Background

Referrals to NHS Gambling Harms Services by year:

2022/23 (April 2022 – March 2023): 1,389 total referrals (Q1 305, Q2 294, Q3 391, Q4 399).

2021/22 (April 2021 – March 2022): 1,013 total referrals (Q1 193, Q2 228, Q3 247, Q4 345).

2020/21 (April 2020 – March 2021): 775 total referrals (Q1 136, Q2 226, Q3 213, Q4 200).

Latest ONS population estimates by age for England suggest that there are 46,006,951 people aged 16 and over living in the country.

Latest data from the gambling commission estimates 0.3% of the population is engaged in problem gambling, while 2.9% are engaged in either moderate or low risk gambling.