THE boardroom of the Darlington Primary Care Trust has been transformed into a film studio to make a video about patients with learning disabilities.

Eleven actors from Darlington's Beck House Drama Group spent the day filming in the boardroom of Doctor Piper House. The video, produced by Newcastle-based company Swingbridge Video, is designed to tackle issues people face when dealing with the health service. It has been scripted by people with learning difficulties.

The trust's patient advice and liaison manager, Sandra Guy, said: "In one scene, a man loses his temper with the receptionist at his GP practice because he does not understand the appointment system and because the receptionist can't really understand him.

"He is barred from the surgery until he apologises.

"This shows the sort of thing that can happen when communications break down and there are strong messages for both sides of such a conflict."

Once the video has been edited, it will be made available to people with learning difficulties and NHS staff.