CC has suffered back problems for many years and has paid a fortune in osteopath and chiropractor fees as there's no hope of treatment on the NHS.

Today she went to see a Doctor in town. He is a qualified GP, homeopath and osteopath and charges double the usual fee for going to see a doctor. However, 70% of that should be reimboursed thanks to form E111.

After the preliminary questions he examined CC standing, bending forward, lying on her back and on her tummy. Then he bent her legs, one at a time, back towards her bottom and I could see that there was a big difference between her right and left legs - the right one wouldn't go back nearly as far.

Then he, literally, put his finger on the problem. 'That's where it hurts'. she said. His next actions surprised us both. 'I'm going to hit her with my fist but without malice', he announced, and proceeded to give two or three short, sharp wallops followed by one really hard one in the place he had pinpointed.

Then he bent her leg back again and it went much further. Instant results! He completed the treatment with some more familiar manipulations, explaining how important it was to position the arms and legs before administering each 'crunch'.

CC came away delighted, especially as he had prescribed ten days of taking it easy and no lifting.