Doctors in Darlington have warned they are close to breaking point due to ongoing issues of huge waiting lists, staff shortages and underfunding. 

The struggles with the healthcare sector in Darlington were laid bare as the Local Democracy Reporting Service visited Moorlands Surgery in Cockerton, Darlington, to see how the NHS is coping with rising demand.

Portakabins have been placed in the car park to provide extra space for the hundreds of patients who are seen every week amid concerns over the cramped conditions inside the practice. 

For now, workers say there’s three main issues stopping development: staffing, premises and IT. The fact there are only two full-time doctors working at the site is something Dr Amanda Riley, the former clinical director of Darlington Primary Care Network , says is “unsustainable”. 

Staff at Moorlands currently respond to around 400 phone calls a day from patients hoping to book an appointment or in need of medical advice but that can rise to 600 on a Monday - the busiest of the week.

“As soon as the clock is over 8am the phone doesn’t stop”, one receptionist says. What’s more, those taking calls are often tasked with dealing with suicidal and abusive people, frustrated at long waiting times and a lack of available appointments. But it’s also vulnerable residents who aren’t consulting doctors despite suffering illnesses who staff also worry about. 

The worker adds: “It’s people's lives that we’re dealing with. If we give the wrong answer that could be life or death.”

 

A plea for more funding and better infrastructure is unanimous among staff at Moorlands. There are plans to move sites but they’ve been told it could take up to 18 months. 

Dr Riley, a Labour candidate at the upcoming local elections in Darlington, is joined by the party’s Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP who is drawing up Labour’s plan to run the NHS. 

“The NHS is going through the biggest crisis in its history and we’re seeing that in every level of the system,” Streeting said. “We’ve heard first hand the pressure GPs are under and we know patients get frustrated with the 8am scramble to get an appointment. 

“Waiting lists are the highest in their history, waiting times are unacceptable. But the NHS is salvageable and it doesn’t need to be like this, it’s not inevitable that we’ll see further decline.”

Labour says the Conservatives’ alleged mismanagement of the NHS has meant it’s now “creaking at the seams”, and is carrying out a full review of the NHS as it works out how to improve it. 

People trying to skip queues at their local practices are instead going to A&E but officials are keen not to encourage this, as it can be more inconvenient and expensive. Dr Riley said: “We have seen a big increase in referrals because of the waiting times at hospitals. It could be a year until you’re seen for routine treatment. 

“I am having to tell patients that they will not be seen in the clinic for a year. If they just have one private consultation that will get them the diagnosis and treatment but that’s something I can’t do. It’s heartbreaking to see people getting sicker and there’s nothing I can do about it.

“We can’t offer the service we want to because we have to deal with so many cases. The waiting times are just so long – they’re horrendous.”

The Northern Echo: Dr Riley, a Labour candidate at the upcoming local elections in Darlington, is joined by the party’s Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP Dr Riley, a Labour candidate at the upcoming local elections in Darlington, is joined by the party’s Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP (Image: The Northern Echo)

Central to these issues, staff say, is a lack of investment in facilities and the workforce. While there is higher demand, there are fewer GPs and greater complexity - and the money isn’t good enough. The role of the GP has changed drastically to include even more responsibility.  Dr Riley recently spent four months off work due to burnout and long covid after working relentlessly throughout the pandemic. 

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Summarising the difficulties, she says they are contributing to a “failure of the entire system and we are the safety net - and that’s crumbling”. 

In response to the staffing concerns, the government says there is a record number of doctors and nurses in the NHS helping to cut waiting lists. There are over 1.27 million full-time equivalent staff working in NHS trusts and commissioning bodies in England - over 51,500 more compared to a year ago, the Department of Health said. 

Secretary of State, Steve Barclay said: “Today’s figures demonstrate the clear progress being made to train and recruit record numbers of staff across the NHS and in primary care. Cutting waiting lists is a key priority for this government and we are committed to ensuring we have the workforce in place to achieve that.”