A FAMILY doctor who says vitamin injections may be all that many patients need to restore their health will hold a press conference today.

Dr Joseph Chandy Snr, a family doctor from the Shinwell Medical Practice, in Horden, County Durham, is convinced that many patients are wrongly diagnosed with a range of medical conditions because they have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

While vitamin B12 deficiency has been acknowledged by doctors for more than 150 years, Dr Chandy said many patients missed out on a diagnosis because their condition was not recognised by many medics.

Vitamin B12, found in meat, eggs and dairy products, is vital in producing red blood cells. A lack can lead to anaemia, resulting in tiredness and poor resistance to infection.

Hundreds of his patients have benefited from vitamin B12 injections, and now local NHS officials in east Durham have agreed to back his approach.

In some cases, patients have been diagnosed with debilitating diseases such as multiple sclerosis when they might have been suffering from a vitamin B12 deficiency.

To mark this breakthrough, Dr Chandy has asked a number of patients who have benefited from a diagnosis of B12 deficiency - and subsequent treatment with a course of injections - to attend a press conference at Peterlee Leisure Centre.

Dr Chandy hopes his approach will be taken up throughout the NHS. A simple test costing about £3 is all that is needed to check whether someone is B12 deficient.

Catharine Iceton, 30, from Peterlee, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis seven years ago and was virtually wheelchair-bound until she was tested for B12 deficiency.

The test revealed a low level of the vitamin and she started a course of treatment.

Within 48 hours of injections, her symptoms improved.

She said: "Before I started the B12, I needed help walking and I spent a lot of time in a wheelchair. Now I can walk unaided and I would say I improved by 60 per cent in just two days. It is incredible, I would never have believed it."

More than 700 patients of Dr Chandy are receiving supplements to top up their vitamin B12.

Dr Chandy's work will be featured on Inside Out on BBC1 at 7.30pm tonight.