Parents of gravely ill children could be given a new right to seek treatment in foreign countries under a “Charlie’s Law” amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill.

Proposals tabled in the House of Lords seek to make it easier for parents to be part of the life-or-death decisions taken by doctors treating their children.

The measures include a new system of mediation, a right to additional medical opinions, and to legal aid if the cases end up in expensive battles in the courts.

Significantly, the amendment also seeks to prevent judges from making orders stopping parents from taking a child abroad for treatment at any esteemed medical institution if there is no significant risk of harm involved.