Southern Gambling Service

About the service

Southern Health is offering a new specialist service providing evidence-based treatment to people with gambling-related harms / gambling disorder.

It is funded by NHS England.

What we do

The Southern Gambling Service offers high quality assessment and evidence-based treatments for people with gambling-related harms / gambling disorder.  

It will offer 3 main treatment pathways:

1. Individual psychotherapy (delivered virtually or in person)
2. Group psychotherapy (delivered virtually or in person)
3. Medication for problematic gambling.

Psychological support is offered in the form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based approaches.

The service has a strong focus on using digital approaches to deliver high quality care, including asking patients to complete questionnaires via a secure online portal as part of the assessment and treatment process and the use of video-consultations when appropriate.

The service is staffed by a multidisciplinary team: consultant psychiatrist(s), consultant psychologist(s), clinical therapist(s), peer support worker(s), as well as administrative and other support staff.

Accessing the service

The service is open to people aged 17 and older with gambling-related harms / gambling disorder, who meet our referral criteria and consent to seeing our team. As of 30^th November 2022, we consider referrals for people living in or registered with a GP in the following areas: Southampton, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, and Hampshire.

Referrals 

If you are a person affected by gambling-related harms / gambling disorder , please request a referral form and criteria by emailing: southerngamblingservice@southernhealth.nhs.uk.or  download self referral form here. 

If you are a registered healthcare professional wishing to refer a patient with gambling-related harms / gambling disorder , please request a referral form and criteria by emailing: southerngamblingservice@southernhealth.nhs.uk.  or download professional referral form here.

Referral from voluntary and community sector organisations (VCS)

If you are working in a VCS and wish to refer a person to the service, please ask the person affected by gambling-related harms / gambling disorder to complete a self-referral form (with your assistance where appropriate).