The shadow Health Minister has promised to look into the case of a desperately-ill Bradford mum forced to use her £27,000 life savings for a potentially life-saving operation.

Lisa Brown, 41, of Tong, had to pay £27,000 for an operation to get more capacity in her right lung after an emphysema diagnosis left her with just 27 per cent capacity in her right lung and barely any in her left.

A consultant had turned her down for surgery after ruling it was too high-risk, so she felt forced to go private in a desperate bid to regain her health.

Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe has now met with shadow Health Minister Andy Burnham to discuss the case in London.

Miss Brown insists she was never offered a second opinion on the NHS, so was forced to go private and has to pay another £27,000 for a second operation on her left lung to enable her to walk around the house without being attached to an oxygen mask.

Mr Sutcliffe has also written to Bradford Royal Infirmary and the Royal Brompton to establish exactly what happened and why Miss Brown felt she had no option but to pay for her treatment.

He said that if he is still unhappy he will raise the matter with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Mr Sutcliffe said: “I wanted Andy to have a look at this case and add it to the list of things (in the NHS) and to make sure he is aware of the type of issue where she wasn't given a second opinion.

“She should be reimbursed for both operations either from BRI or from within the NHS.

“I spoke to Andy and he said he will have a look at it.

“He is pretty concerned and is going to look at it and wants to go through the case and have another chat with me. I have also written to the various bodies about this.”

A spokesman for Mr Burnham said he had heard about the issue of charging in the NHS being raised more and more.

The spokesman also confirmed that the meeting had taken place between Mr Sutcliffe and Mr Burnham.

“It is something he is determined to expose and we will be looking into this further,” the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, a fundraising day to help pay for Miss Brown’s next operation takes place on Sunday at the Prospect pub in Stone Hall Road.

There will be face painting, bouncy castles, and stalls from 1pm to 6pm.

Family friend Kaye Mitchell said: “Lisa can’t wait to feel better and be able to get about more and do things for herself.

“She’s really happy with the results of her first operation and nothing is going to get in the way of getting the second one done.

“This is also now paid for with Lisa's life savings and donations.”