Last updated 15:53, Wednesday, 09 April 2008

A WORKINGTON man who ‘blew’ between £7,000 to £10,000 in a year on gaming machines has finally regained control of his life – but only after radical brain surgery which cost the NHS £30,000.

Father-of-two Raymond Mandale, 58, of Hunter Street, developed a compulsive gambling habit as a side effect of drug treatment, given to mitigate some effects of Parkinson’s Disease.

Mr Mandale, a fitter with Iggesund Paperboard, had been a non-gambler but the habit cleaned him out of his life’s savings and almost ended his long marriage to Joan, a receptionist at Workington’s Sport and Leisure Centre.

He is now taking legal advice and says that he might sue American drug manufacturers for their failure to warn him of the possibility of addictive and compulsive side effects.

Since his case and others in the UK came to light, clearer warnings are now included by the manufacturers.

Mr Mandale’s small fortune went into gaming machines at Workington’s Opera Bingo centre.

Doctors decided that the only way he could be cured of his compulsive gambling was through a six-hour operation at Newcastle General Hospital.

Probes were fixed into his brain, and then wired to a neuro-stimulator sewn into his chest. The successful NHS operation took place on February 12.

He is believed to be the first patient from Cumbria to undergo the deep brain stimulation surgery.

He is still on moderate medication but electrical stimulation using apparatus controlled by Mr Mandale has replaced most of the chemical stimulation he obtained from the drugs.

On legal advice, he has chosen not to name the specific drug.

He said its effectiveness was not in question but the side effects were unforeseen.

He did not blame his doctors, and added: “When I was gambling, I begged, borrowed stole and I lied.

“I was totally out of control for a year. I would sometimes tell Joan I was going round to the shops and I would be straight round to the bingo hall. I had some wins, of course, but it all went back in.

“Sometimes in the mornings I would stop and think and tell myself I had to stop, but then I took my medication and all resistance ended.”

Joan, 55, said: “We are a close family and we have a strong marriage, but it almost came apart.

“I was off work for seven months with stress and shingles. There was no way I could face my customers; all I wanted to do was to stay at home and cry.”

West Cumbria consultant neurologist Nick Russell was not available for comment this week.

A fellow doctor said: “As far as I know, these unwanted effects are very rare. Most drug companies do list possible harmful effects.”

A spokesman for Graves (Cumberland) Limited, which operates Opera Bingo, said they complied with the Gambling Act of 2005, which aims to protect children and vulnerable persons.

Bingo operations manager Shaun Edwards said: “We have a self-exclusion scheme and we do everything to inform and enable people how to control their gambling.

“We remember Raymond as a nice guy and as a happy customer and a regular customer. None of his actions ever gave us any cause for concern.”