17 May 2018

CNWL reacts to Government decision on gambling review

Speaking for CNWL, the founder of CNWL's National Problem Gambling Clinic, Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, said: "This is a great day for those of us working in addiction services. Today's proposals are very welcome and will play a part in helping to reduce the numbers of problem gamblers that CNWL's National Problem Gambling Clinic sees every year, and has seen over the past 10 years.

"However this is/are just a start and may not go far enough. Prevention and protection are absolutely needed for children and for the vulnerable. But treatment and support are also needed and must form part of our national strategy.

"We need to see an expansion of specialist addiction services that will allow the NHS to treat more problem gamblers, while more research is required into effective interventions and the causes of relapse.

"Current services, which are funded almost exclusively by the gambling industry, are under-developed, geographically patchy or simply non-existent.

"At CNWL, we want to see the government recognising gambling disorder as a public health responsibility, so that treatment could begin to be provided from England's existing and network of community drug and alcohol services, which we believe could provide joined-up, efficient and seamless care for those suffering from a gambling disorder."

Editors' notes

CNWL established the first NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic in 2008, led by Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones, and it remains the only dedicated NHS service of its kind in the UK. The service provides an evidence-based package of treatment for problem gamblers that include debt management and family therapy alongside individual support such as motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The service has successfully provided treatment to thousands of problem gamblers.

For more details:

Contact Senior Communications Officer Jeremy Dunning on 0203 214 5756 or emailjeremy.dunning@nhs.net

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5756 e-mail:communications.cnwl@nhs.net