Retired midwife Doreen Kenworthy was last week given the devastating diagnosis that she was suffering from the eye condition age-related macular degeneration.

But her shock was compounded when doctors told her the NHS would not pay for treatment until she lost the sight in her affected eye and began to lose it in the other – although further loss of sight could be prevented if she paid out thousands of pounds for private care. Her plight is similar to that of York pensioner Leslie Howard who was refused immediate NHS treatment, although a private hospital group has now stepped in to give him the care he needs. Dr Kenworthy, 56, of Stanley, Wakefield, has vowed to fight to get sight-saving treatment.

"I am not prepared to die of cancer, neither am I prepared to go blind whilst fighting it," she said.

"I have never been a supporter of the private sector in my professional life. I believe in Aneurin Bevan's philosophy of free healthcare access for all at all levels.

"I understand there are cutbacks, although I don't agree with the way the Labour Government has handled the NHS, but to be told 'Sorry you have to go almost blind before you get help' is dreadful."

Dr Kenworthy, who worked as a midwife and later trained midwives before retiring last year from Bradford University, said she was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, undergoing a year of treatment before the condition recurred in January.

The eye complaint was unrelated but she had already lost some central vision in her right eye which began deteriorating a month ago.

She was urgently called for tests at St James's Hospital in Leeds where specialists told her she had the eye complaint and further deterioration could be prevented only by drug injections.

She was told these were only provided by the NHS after she lost her sight in one eye and began to lose it in the other – although they were available privately at a cost of up to £1,000 each over 12-24 months.

"I did not expect to be told that I couldn't be treated on the NHS but if I went into the private sector I could be treated tomorrow," she said.

Dr Kenworthy, who has twins aged 31 and four grandchildren, said the only option she had to fund the treatment was by remortgaging her home.

"To have to tell your children twice you've got cancer, then to say by the way you're going blind in your right eye and can't have any treatment until it affects your other eye is very hard," she said.

"It's been devastating to have cancer twice in two years, to fight it, to retire after 30 years in the NHS and then get this on top."

Campaigners estimate about a quarter of primary care trusts in England are approving the treatment on a case-by-case basis and are hopeful more will do so in coming weeks ahead of national guidance in October but many are still refusing to provide it at all.

Last night Steve Winyard, from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, said it "strongly supported" her right to have sight-saving treatment free on the NHS and urged local NHS chiefs to approve it.

Wakefield Primary Care Trust said it could not comment on individual cases.

But it did consider paying for treatment depending on the severity of the condition and providing a consultant made a clinical case for care.

Pensioner is refused sight drugs – until he goes blind »

Have you been a victim of the postcode lottery for treatment for macular degeneration? Call the Yorkshire Post on 0113 238 8544.