I READ last week in the Daily Post that scores of Liverpool women are dying needlessly from breast cancer every year because their condition is diagnosed too late.

The city was found to have one of the worst survival rates anywhere in England, with almost 7% of women dead within one year of being told they have the condition.

Health experts believe the high death rate is explained by a failure to diagnose the cancer early enough.

NEW FIGURES from the NHS Litigation Authority show that pay-outs made in clinical negligence cases rose to £807m in 2008/2009.

The amount paid out was up around 20% on 2007/2008 when £661m was paid in compensation and solicitors' fees.

Last year, legal fees accounted for £143m of the £807m paid out.

ALL the time we are being told the importance of cervical screening and how we should be regularly screened.

And everyone was so stunned by the tragic death of Jade Goody when she lost her life to cervical cancer earlier this year, leaving behind her two young children.

We were told by the newspapers that Jade was regularly screened, which made me ask "Did she receive the correct standard of care whilst undergoing the cervical screening tests?".

I AM often consulted by clients wishing to investigate a potential medical negligence claim due to their frustrations at the failure of medical staff to listen to their concerns they have regarding the care they are or their family are receiving.

I have a client who was in hospital for 3 months and from the 3rd week to the 8th week, he continually complained of pain in his behind.

He was ignored by the medical staff and when someone did listen to him, it was too late, in that he had developed a large pressure sore which he is still being treated for two years later.

I have a 10 pounds eight ounces excuse!

After watching Britain's largest babies last week, I discovered that my big boy Noah James, who was born at Ormskirk Hospital on the December 9, is in the top 2%. In fact, I had the heaviest baby in Crosby in 2007, which I am very proud about (as you can imagine!).

I recently settled a large claim on behalf of a family, not just one claimant but three. All the challenging aspects of pursuing a clinical negligence claim tripled!

I am Rachel Donovan, associate solicitor at Goodmans Solicitors in our Rodney Street office. If you did not already know we also have offices in Broadway, Norris Green; St Johns Road, Waterloo and Allerton Road.