The NHS Specialist Gambling Harms Service in the West Midlands has exceeded referral targets for 2024/25.

The West Midlands Gambling Harms Clinic, provided by Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust offers specialist addiction therapy, treatment and recovery to people affected by gambling addiction and gambling problems across the West Midlands.

In England, there are almost 1.6 million adults who gamble and may benefit from some type of treatment or support for harmful gambling, according to The Health Survey for England.

In the West Midlands, there are almost 175,000 adults who gamble that may benefit from some type of treatment or support for harmful gambling, according to the Gambling Treatment Needs Assessment for England 2024.

In 2024 the clinic was expected to receive referrals for 350 – 450 people but over 650 patients were referred, or referred themselves.

A service user from Stoke-on-Trent said: “From a young age I have always had an unhealthy attraction to gambling which in retrospect has always been an underlying problem in my life.

“On multiple occasions this addiction has exacerbated and resulted in a severe risk causing financial and mental harm to myself and those around me.

“I was stunned by the speed of the service. The team contacted me the next day and I had an appointment booked within the week to assess my issues.

“The structured courses helped me to recognise and prioritise the key factors in my life that both caused gambling and more importantly, would help prevent gambling in the future.

“This course helped to bring reason and logic to the forefront which, when accompanied with a personal desire to change one’s behaviour, really helped me to focus on positive change.”

Andy Ryan, West Midlands Clinic Operation Lead said: “We realise that due to stigma and shame we have lots of work to do in raising awareness of gambling harms. We continue to work with partners, reaching into communities to ensure this service is accessible for everyone.

“A key role we have is to ensure timely responses and to nurture a relational approach in our support, helping to meet people’s individual needs. We are achieving this thanks to a dedicated and compassionate team, as well as insight and support from partners across the region.”

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.

“Our service in the Midlands provides confidential, non-judgemental access to highly skilled clinicians who can help those affected by problematic gambling.”

The West Midlands Gambling Harms clinic is 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.