A WOMAN with spinal problems fears she faces a life using a wheelchair after NHS managers withdrew treatment allowing her to lead a normal life.

Dorothy Holloway, 59, suffers from chronic spondylitis - arthritis of the spine - and could not walk more than 500 yards until her doctor referred her to Witney Chiropractic Clinic 14 years ago.

Orthopaedic consultants were so impressed by her recovery following treatment with chiropractor Richard Belamy-Price that two years ago they persuaded the former Cherwell Vale Primary Care Trust to fund the £32 sessions.

But Oxfordshire PCT, which took over 18 months ago, claims chiropractic care is a "low priority" for the NHS, and has refused to continue paying for the treatment.

Home help Mrs Holloway, who lives with her husband David in Wenrisc Drive, Minster Lovell, said: "Although my consultants say I have an exceedingly good case, the PCT managers claim I don't.

"Chiropractic is the only thing that works for me. I've had all the conventional treatments but nothing worked, and before I had chiropractic I couldn't walk more than 500 yards. Now I can lead a relatively normal life.

"If I don't receive regular treatment I'll be back to square one and I'll probably end up in a wheelchair - costing the state far more than £32 a month."

She added: "We know chiropractic works for me, so I think the PCT should fund it. I know it's funded in other areas of the UK."

An Oxfordshire PCT spokesman said it would cost £6-8 a month to treat Mrs Holloway with painkilling and anti-inflammatory drugs.

She said: "Her request for renewal of approval of funding for chiropractic treatment was considered at length by the PCT's case review committee.

"In this instance it concluded that the patient's clinical circumstances weren't significantly different to others who might want the same treatment and thus did not agree to fund ongoing treatment."