GLASGOW'S health board is challenging a £62,000 bill for medical treatment in America for a three-year-old Glasgow girl battling cancer.

Caoimhe Neeson's mum Joe-Anne was hit with the bill after the youngster contracted a rare blood infection, nine days after completing pioneering cancer treatment costing £250,000.

The health board funded the Proton Beam Therapy for Caoimhe, who has a rare brain tumour, as well as paying for accommodation and return flights for the family.

They were expected to return home to Sandyhills, in the city's East End, shortly after Caoimhe completed her treatment at a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, which went well with no complications.

However, the family prolonged their stay after receiving tickets from a charity to take Caoimhe for a "once in a lifetime" trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando.

But during the trip she became seriously ill with a rare blood infection and spent more than two weeks in hospital. She responded well to treatment, but her mum is now facing a bill of about £62,000.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has not made a decision on whether it will fund the additional treatment costs.

A spokeswoman said the board was waiting for a detailed account of the events that followed her discharge from the hospital in Jacksonville.

However, Joe-Anne, 29, who has now returned to Glasgow, said: "Even if I had not taken my daughter to Disney World we would still have been in America because our flights home were not until after the time she became unwell.

"She was taken to the Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando and was put on a strong cocktail of intravenous antibiotics.

"As is the procedure in America, the finance representatives came to see me to discuss payment for her treatment. The bill stands at £62,000.

"I explained I was in America for Proton Therapy which was NHS funded, and since this situation could not have been predicted I assumed she was still covered by them.

"I sent several e-mails to Yorkhill and was told the NHS have no liability for Caoimhe. I feel so badly let down by the NHS."

The NHSGGC spokeswoman added: "Whilst we have paid the costs of repatriating her and her family back to Scotland, we are still awaiting a detailed account of the subsequent events that followed her discharge from the unit in Jacksonville, the costs of which the NHS is being asked to fund."

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk