GPs should quiz patients on their gambling habits in the same way they ask about drugs, smoking or alcohol, new guidelines say

Doctors should ask patients if they have a gambling problem in the same way they inquire about drugs, smoking and alcohol, according to new guidelines.

Bosses at the National Institute for Health and Care (Nice) say anyone seeing an NHS health professional for depression, anxiety or thoughts about self-harm or suicide ought to be questioned about gambling.

They should be encouraged to complete an online questionnaire which will help assess the severity of addiction, Nice suggests, and those who score eight or higher should seek support and treatment from gambling services.

GPs should also discuss software blocking tools to limit online gambling and consider referring patients to cognitive behavioural therapy.

The draft recommendations have been made in a bid to help those deemed at risk of addiction to cope with their thoughts and urges.

Professor Jonathan Benger, chief medical officer and interim director of the centre for guidelines at Nice, said: ‘Harmful gambling causes immense misery to all those who experience it.

‘We want those needing help or who are at risk to be identified sooner and receive appropriate help.’

Since 2019, NHS England has opened 12 gambling treatment clinics, with a further three set to open in the coming months.

It is planning to treat up to 3,000 people a year across the 15 facilities, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

Official data revealed about 1,400 people were referred for help for gambling addiction last year, up by a third on 2021.

Doctors should ask patients if they have a gambling problem in the same way they inquire about drugs, smoking and alcohol, according to new guidelines (File image) 

Fiona Macleod, director of services at charity GamCare, said the Nice guidance is ‘an important step’.

She said: ‘Identifying an issue with gambling as early as possible is vital to prevent harm from occurring later down the line, and we know that there is an important role that healthcare professionals can play in helping more people find the support they need.

‘We believe these recommendations, if implemented, will present a greater opportunity to prevent gambling harms from occurring in the UK. They represent an important step in encouraging more people to seek support, through services such as those GamCare provides’.

Zoe Osmond, chief executive of GambleAware, also welcomed the draft guidance, saying: ‘Gambling harms are a serious public health issue, which can affect anyone, and healthcare professionals are ideally placed to identify and help people experiencing them.

‘We welcome the development of guidelines to further inform treatment for those seriously affected by gambling harm and will be responding to the consultation with our views.’