An inquiry has been launched into the hospital treatment of a multiple sclerosis sufferer who is dying of ovarian cancer.

Doctors have given Rosemary Walker, 51, three weeks to live because her cancer and MS are now in such advanced stages that she cannot be operated on.

Miss Walker, of Preston Park Avenue, Brighton, was admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in May where she was treated for sores caused by her being wheelchair-bound since the mid-Eighties.

There she developed classic symptons of ovarian cancer while but according to her brother, Martin, nothing was done to investigate it. He has now written to the Royal Sussex demanding to know why the cancer was not picked up by staff.

Mr Walker said it was not until Rosemary was taken to Chaseley Trust Nursing Home, in Eastbourne, in September, that her cancer was diagnosed.

Mr Walker said: "By May, Rosemary was suffering from vomiting episodes and by July I noticed her stomach was swollen.

"My mother went to a case conference in July and pleaded to find out what was wrong with Rosemary, but the problem was that there did not seem to be anyone in charge of the ward.

"There did not seem to be any qualified doctors around. It's a tragedy because if the cancer had been identified in May or June, perhaps they could have operated on her."

Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper is taking up the case on behalf of the Walkers.

He said: "I am very concerned about the treatment, or the lack of it, at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. I will be asking the chief executive of Brighton Health Care NHS Trust and the director of Brighton and Hove social services to investigate this as a matter of urgency.

"Complaining of these symptoms and not having them investigated is bad enough, but the Royal Sussex Hospital has a very good reputation in terms of treatment for cancer. I want to ensure this does not happen to anyone else."

Paul Milligan, the deputy chief executive of Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust has opened an urgent investigation into the incident.

He said: "I am naturally very concerned to receive Mr Walker's letter outlining his anxieties about the care of his sister.

"As soon as this investigation is completed we will write to Mr Walker with the findings. I would wish to express our sympathies to Miss Walker and her family at what must be a distressing time."