After ringing every day for a week, I finally got through to someone helpful on the processing team who told me my letter confirming the damage to my passport was linked to my application on 28/03 (Royal Mail said this was signed for by Durham office 11/03). I explained to her how much I was panicking and asked if a note could be left on my application for the examiners to pick it up asap, she said she could email Durham office with my details letting them know when I fly and the date I have to apply for my visa by. The next day, my application got approved so now just waiting for it to be printed and delivered. Just under 4 weeks til I fly so I’m feeling relieved and a lot more hopeful it will arrive with time to spare.
It’s a ridiculous system and it doesn’t seem to be very fair, but ringing them and hounding them to do something seems to do the trick!