GPs urged to look out for gambling problems
Family doctors in the North East are being asked to help shift the odds on harmful gambling among their patients
NHS Northern Gambling Service – the only NHS gambling service outside London and which operates a clinic in Sunderland - is urging GPs and primary care practitionersacrosstheregiontobemore questioning and look out the signs of harmful gambling among their patients.
The service has launched a campaign-ShiftingtheOdds– whichaimstoprovideGPsand surgerystaffwiththeinformation and confidence needed to engage patients who may be at risk from a gambling addiction.
Only 3% of people suffering from harmful gambling either seek or are referred for treatment and the number of problemgamblersisestimated at between three and five million nationally.
The new coronavirus lockdown has raised fears over higher rates of gambling something seen during the first lockdown.
Matt Gaskell, consultant psychologist and clinical lead attheNorthernGamblingService, said: “We need GPs and their teams to help us shift the odds for their patients.
“Unlike other addictions, there are few visible signs but our campaign is designed to give practitioner sample questions to include on initial patientscreeningquestionnaires and strategies for identifying gambling-related symptoms.”
Theresourceisavailableon the NHS Northern Gambling Service’s website: https:// www.leedsandyorkpft.nhs. uk/our-services/northerngambling-service/.
Patients can be referred to the service using the referral form on the website, by ringing 0300 3001490 or emailing referral.ngs@nhs.net.