A TAUNTON mother who claims she endured months of agonising pain due to medical negligence is suing a hospital trust for up to £50,000.

Bosses at Musgrove Park Hospital dispute there were any failings in the treatment of cancer patient Joanna Draus and are contesting the claim.

Lawyers for Ms Draus, 38, of Moorland Road, have issued a High Court writ saying she was the victim of negligence by staff at Musgrove, which is run by Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust.

It is claimed she was in debilitating pain for nine months before the hospital finally diagnosed her with ovarian cancer.

It adds that Ms Draus regularly visited her GP and Musgrove after moving to Taunton from her native Poland in 2012 suffering from pain and heavy periods.

She underwent an MRI scan in February 2015, but claims medical staff failed to correctly interpret nodules that showed up.

Ms Draus had exploratory surgery later that year before having a major operation including a hysterectomy, which showed she had ovarian cancer that had spread.

She told the County Gazette: "I was in a lot of pain because of the nine-month delay.

"I was every day on strong tablets which made me like a drunk.

"Almost every week I visited or called my doctor.

"It was so bad I wasn't even able to collect my daughter from school because of the pain.

"I couldn't walk. I was afraid I was going to lose her. It was devastating. And I had to take time off work."

A spokesman for Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said: "We always do our best to resolve patient questions and complaints.

"However, as this is now the subject of legal proceedings we are unfortunately not able to comment further."