'We are still here for you' - says specialist Sunderland NHS gambling service

The NHS Northern Gambling Service, based at the Beacon of Light, next to Sunderland Football Club’s Stadium of Light ground, launched six months ago to provide care for people with severe betting problems as well as associated mental health conditions.

Trained staff, including psychologists, a psychiatrist and senior mental health nurse began offering face-to-face consultations with gamblers until the onset of the coronavirus in March.

While the clinic is still temporarily closed on social distancing grounds, the service is keen to remind potential users – particularly given that sport has gradually resumed during the lockdown – that help is available.

Consultant psychologist Matthew Gaskell, the service’s clinical lead, said: “We are still here, are proud to have continued to offer a service over the past four months and can offer consultations through video or phone.”

He said dozens of people contacted the Sunderland service after the January launch and added: “We saw a steady stream of service users, not just from Sunderland but across the North East as a whole.”

There is no suggestion either that Sunderland’s problems are worse than other parts of the region with location and transport links among the reasons cited for the clinic opening here.

Mr Gaskell said a “mixed picture” had emerged of gambling habits since the covid-19 lockdown began, adding: “For those people whose hobby was sports betting then they were able to give themselves a break.

"Some, of course, have started to gamble again now that sport has returned and realise they have a problem.

"There is evidence also from the Gambling Commission that some people using online platforms have increased their usage.

“Even when there is no sports it is possible to bet on viral horse races with CGI graphics.”

In England, around 265,000 adults are classified as higher risk problem gamblers with around 2.4million judged as being “at risk” from developing a serious gambling problem.

The service offers psychological therapies, addiction treatment programmes and mental health treatment.

Family and friends of gamblers are also encouraged to seek help for their own associated problems.

The service can be contacted by phone on 0300 300 1490, by email at [email protected] or throughout its website at https://www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs.uk/our-services/northern-gambling-service/

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