The Labour Party has vowed to improve NHS waiting times and ensure people in Darlington secure vital dental appointments after hearing residents’ concerns.

People across the town have shockingly resorted to ‘DIY dentistry’ and are pulling out their own teeth due to long waiting lists and practices not accepting new patients. It is an issue seen throughout the UK but is especially pertinent in Darlington, where hundreds of residents have been forced to look for a new provider following the recent closure of a community dentist.  

Health officials have warned the dental demand remains “very high” due to the Covid backlog, with practices around the town struggling to cope with rising interest. Staff recruitment and retention issues have caused practices to close their books, meaning hundreds of residents cannot get treatment. Just 12 NHS dental practices remain in Darlington and officials are yet to strike a deal to open a new site.

During a visit to Moorlands Surgery in Cockerton, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting argued the dental crisis is due to years of Conservative mismanagement.

Read more: Darlington dentist crisis to take 2 years to clear residents warned

“We’ve seen a total collapse in NHS dentistry and in some places there are complete dental deserts,” he said. “After 13 years, they still haven’t solved the problem of the dental contract. We’re looking at what we can do to reform the system, but the challenge is so big. It’s going to be a combination of focusing on children’s dental care, affordability, and recruitment. We’re determined not to make promises we can’t keep, and I don’t mind admitting that because of the Tories mismanagement it’s going to take time to recover.”

The Northern Echo: Darlington labour leader cllr Stephen Harker, Wes Streeting, Lola McEvoy and Dr Amanda Riley at Moorlands surgery in Cockerton Darlington labour leader cllr Stephen Harker, Wes Streeting, Lola McEvoy and Dr Amanda Riley at Moorlands surgery in Cockerton (Image: The Northern Echo)

It comes as new figures show some patients at County Durham and Darling NHS Foundation Trust are waiting as long as 229 days to start cancer treatment, as cancer waiting times get worse for patients every year since 2010, according to NHS figures. Last year, 500,000 suspected cancer patients in England waited longer to the recommended two weeks to see a specialist after being referred by a GP.

Labour’s plan to bring down NHS waiting times and get patients seen and treated faster includes: doubling medical school places to train an extra 7,500 doctors a year; training 10,000 more nurses and midwives every year; doubling the number of district nurses qualifying each year; and training 5,000 more health visitors.

But if it is to realise those ambition then Labour first needs to receive the support on the doorstep, starting with the local elections – and the party faces a tough challenge to regain the trust of Darlington residents.

Streeting said: “There are encouraging signs that we are winning previous Conservative voters, and that is how we will win the next election. We are winning people over but we’re not complacent and I hope people can judge 13 years of Conservative government and what they’ve failed to deliver. The difference between Labour and them is night and day.”

When asked whether the Conservatives increasing their control of the council would be a back step for Labour, Streeting added: “We would accept that and take it on the chin, but we’re working hard over the next few days to convince people to give Labour a chance and vote for the fresh start that Darlington needs.”

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In response to Labour’s campaign to cut waiting times, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “The NHS has been seeing and treating record numbers of patients for cancer over the last two years.

“Over nine in ten patients are starting cancer treatment within one month, and the number of patients waiting more than 18 months for care has fallen by more than four-fifths since the peak last September. 75 per cent  of patients were diagnosed with cancer, or had it ruled out, within 28 days of referral which meant NHS England’s faster diagnosis standard was reached for the first time in February 2023. 

"We know there is more to do which is why, since July 2021, we have opened 100 community diagnostic centres. These one-stop-shops have carried out over 3.6 million tests, checks and scans to ensure patients get access to the best medical advice when and where they need it.”