A severely epileptic little girl who has up to 300 fits a day could still receive the cannabis-based medication her mum tried to bring into the country, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has suggested.

Nine-year-old Teagan Appleby, of Milner Crescent, Aylesham, suffers from the life-threatening condition - but found it stabilised last year after she received cannabis-based medication at Evelina Children's Hospital. However, it has since then proved difficult obtaining prescriptions, prompting the family to travel to Holland.

This week, mum Emma Appleby attempted to bring back several weeks' worth of treatment for Teagan after visiting medics in Rotterdam, but the medication was confiscated by officials at Southend Airport.

Scroll down to hear from Teagan's mum

She said: "I was heartbroken, even though I knew there was a chance it could happen."

She told KentOnline how customs officers were 'sympathetic' to her, but explained they still had a job to do.

However, they assured Mrs Appleby that the drugs were only to be confiscated, giving the family 'a glimmer of hope' that they could still access the life-changing oil if it is formally approved with a license.

Yesterday, the family's hopes appeared to be strengthened as Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons there is an "opportunity for a second opinion", and confirmed the drugs have not been destroyed.

'It's promising. It gives me a little bit of hope' - Emma Appleby

He said "it is not possible to import controlled drugs" without the approval of a British doctor. But he added: "However, we have made available the opportunity for a second opinion."

Speaking in response to this, Mrs Appleby said: "It's promising. It gives me a little bit of hope. But I'm still not convinced until I've got the medication in my hands.

"I don't want to get my hopes up and then get let down. It's positive, but I'm not convinced just yet."

A petition has been launched on Change.org to release Teagan’s medicinal cannabis - and has already received almost 75,000 signatures since it was launched on Saturday.

"The support form the public has been amazing," said Mrs Appleby. "They have been brilliant - I can't say thank you to them enough. It is really nice that everyone's behind me, and most people understand that as a mum you do whatever you have to do for your children."

However, Mrs Appleby says she does not know when the fate of the medication will be decided.

She said: "Unfortunately, I haven't been told anything. I only know what happened in the House of Commons yesterday is because I was watching it on Parliament TV at the time. No-one's actually informed me of anything yet."

To support the petition, visit the page on Change.org.

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