A young woman who was forced to give up her studies due to illness, was today suing a hospital for the loss of her kidney.

Michelle Roberts, 27, was at the Royal Courts of Justice today (Mon) seeking damages from Royal Sussex County Hospital after doctors allegedly failed to provide critical tests, which would have shown she was seriously ill.

Michelle, of Leigh, says she was admitted to the hospital in December 1998 after suffering from recurrent back pain over a number of years.

Doctors diagnosed hydronephrosis-a condition which causes the kidney to swell because of a back-up of urine- and decided that she needed an urgent investigation of her kidney.

An appointment was made in January 1999, but the test was never carried out, on the advice of staff, because of medical reasons, it is alleged.

Notes sent to Michelle's GP never mentioned the diagnosis and her case was never referred to any other hospital, the court was due to be told.

Worried about the delay, Michelle paid privately for an investigation, where it was discovered that the disease had spread and she had to have the kidney removed in March 2000.

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