CAMPAIGNERS who are angry at the length of time patients have to wait for pain relief are holding a recruitment drive in the region.

Despite calls for improvements, many patients in excruciating pain are forced to wait for months before they can see a pain specialist.

Because there are so few NHS pain specialists in the region, the group is planning to apply for funding to hire its own complementary therapists, who could treat patients in their own homes.

Action On Pain (Durham) said this approach to pain relief has been forced on them because of the lack of facilities.

The group is to hold public meetings at Central House, Gladstone Street, Darlington, on September 10, and at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, on October 3. Both meetings start at 7pm.

With the aid of a grant, the group has now appointed a development officer, Christine Brydon.

The meetings in Darlington and Bishop Auckland are just the beginning, and the group would like to link up with patients who are having difficulties in obtaining pain relief across the region.

"People are still waiting for months to attend hospital pain clinics," said Ms Brydon.

"Many patients don't want to take painkillers any more, they want to find other ways of managing their pain," she added.

If the group is able to hire complementary therapists the hope is that patients can be taught to help themselves.

Mrs Hawgood, who started the group more than a year ago, said that while more patients were being seen by hospitals, people in pain still faced long waits.

For more information about Action on Pain (Durham), telephone 0191-386 4395.