'Doctor who cheated to feed his habit is exception to the rule'

Robin Wade, a family GP, wrote prescriptions for himself at the Moorlands Surgery in Willow Road, Darlington, using a variety of his patients' names.

Earlier this month, the British Medical Association (BMA) called for action over alcohol and drug abuse among medics after a BBC survey showed the problem was widespread.

BBC One's Real Story found that, over the last ten years, 750 hospital staff in England had been disciplined over alcohol and drug-related incidents. The BMA estimates one in 15 medics has a problem with drugs or alcohol at some point. Ethics committee chairman Michael Wilks said the profession was in denial.

A study of junior doctors in the North-East carried out a few years ago painted a similarly alarming picture.

It found that 93 per cent drank - and 60 per cent of those exceeded safe limits.

About 11 per cent of junior doctors regularly smoked cannabis, and up to 13 per cent took drugs such as cocaine, LSD, ecstasy and amphetamines.

However, Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) chief executive Colin Morris said last night: "Patient safety is our number one priority and we take patients concerns very seriously."

However, he's the first to admit that hasn't always been the case, with the old system tending to lean in favour of medical practitioners.

He said: "Over the last few years, the PCT has been working hard to turn this around and put measures into place to help patients if they have any worries or complaints about a medical practitioner, whether they be a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist.

"We have a number of complaint procedures and we also monitor situations internally.

"We trace and monitor feedback we get about GPs and, for example, if we got a trend of complaints about a doctor's attitude, we would look into it.

"We also monitor the prescriptions made by the GPs, so we can look out for anything out of the ordinary."

Mr Morris said complaints or concerns can not only be raised by a patient, but another member of staff, such as a nurse working for a doctor.

"We are aware that not everyone, especially staff, feels comfortable about making a complaint as they are worried about being identified and the effect it could have on their jobs.

"However, concerns can be raised anonymously by contacting the Patient and Public Forum or by logging on to the PCT's website, where many comments are made."

Mr Morris is aware that, with such measures in place, medical staff could feel as though they have been made the enemy, but he says the steps are necessary to reassure the public and to safeguard countless hard-working individuals.

Steps have also been taken to stop GPs falling off the right track in the first place.

Mr Morris said: "We have stopped GPs working out-of-hours and during the weekends. They now tend to work set hours Monday to Friday, which reduces their stress levels and increases their performance."

The PCT also introduced the Walk-In Centre, in King Street, which has had 12,500 people through its doors since it opened in January.

"We are seeing an average of 120 people a day for minor ailments and injuries - that's 120 less people going to see their GP. When a high-profile case such as yesterday's happens, it is rightfully made public and reported in the media, but it does tend to lead people to think there are many doctors behaving inappropriately.

"What people need to remember is that there is a huge number of doctors who work extremely hard for the good of the public."