More and more of us, it seems, are refusing to wait for treatment from the National Health Service when we develop aches and pains.

Alistair Dinmore, 36, business manager of the new Witney Physiotherapy Centre at Bridge Street Mill, said: "The main reason people go private is the speed of referral. They often cannot wait the four to six weeks to see a physio on the NHS."

He was speaking to me on the telephone from his day job at Gatwick Airport; for apart from starting up the centre last month with wife Michelle, who is lead physio there, he is also a pilot with British Airways. Talk about an energetic lifestyle.

He said: "There is fog in Jersey at the moment and my flight is delayed, so I have some time to talk now. Then I shall be flying on to Riga. But I will be back in Witney tomorrow."

Perhaps most of his wife's patients lead less busy lives than these two, but all the same the sheer pace of life these days means that business has boomed from day one at the centre.

Most common complaints concern people's backs, though work-related upper limb problems are also, well, popular, as a result of so many of us staring at screens and tapping at keyboards all day.

They opened their new centre at the beginning of February with David Cameron, Witney MP and opposition leader, there to do the honours - he made a speech about how he and his family have themselves had much experience of working with physios and therefore know just how vital they can be for many people's wellbeing.

The centre already has five physios working on the premises: Kate Badger, Kirsty McCrann, Sarah Showan, and Clare Lewey, in addition to Mrs Dinmore.

Mr Dinmore has a background in the Royal Marines which he left in 2000. Mrs Dinmore set up as a private physio in the same year, thoroughly testing the market before opening the new centre.

She said: "One of the satisfying aspects of physiotherapy is that you see people get better. Most people we see we are able to help. So that is very rewarding."

She qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist with a BSc (Hons) in 1992. Since then, she has worked in a wide variety of clinical settings, including five years with the NHS before moving into the private sector, initially in a private hospital.

During this time, she gained extensive experience of hospital orthopaedics and trauma.

Mr Dinmore admitted that their lives were a "bit of a juggling act" - they have two children, William, six, and two-year-old Elizabeth.

But he added: "We live next door but one to the clinic - so that helps."

Although that is perhaps less relevant when you are travelling to Riga and back - all in a day's work.

n Contact: Witney Physiotherapy Centre, 01993 201485, www.witneyphysio.com