Probe is launched into the death of five-year-old boy who died from pneumonia when he was ‘sent home from hospital because no beds were available’

• Yusuf Mahmud Nazir died from pneumonia after an infection spread to his lungs
• Family say the five-year-old would have lived if he’d been admitted to hospital
• The CEO of Rotherham Hospital said an independent inquiry has been launched
• But the boy’s uncle said family want investigation external to the health service

An investigation has been launched into the death of five-year-old Yusuf Mahmud Nazir (pictured)

An investigation has been launched into the death of a five-year-old boy who developed pneumonia after being sent home from hospital allegedly because ‘no beds’ were available. 

Yusuf Mahmud Nazir died from pneumonia on November 23 after an infection reportedly spread to his lungs and caused multiple organ failure resulting in several cardiac arrests.

His family believe the youngster would have lived had he been admitted to Rotherham General Hospital when they took him to A&E nine days earlier.

The chief executive of Rotherham Hospital has said an independent inquiry has been launched into his death.

Yusuf complained of a sore throat on November 13 and his parents took him to their GP, who prescribed antibiotics.

They drove him to the emergency department at Rotherham hospital the next day when his condition did not improve.

The family waited for hours before Yusuf was seen, but he was sent home even though the doctor treating him had said ‘it was the worst case of tonsillitis he had ever seen’, according to his uncle Zaheer Ahmed.

The boy was distressed, struggling to breathe and could not swallow, his family said.

Yusuf’s condition worsened while he was at home and his parents called an ambulance and insisted he was taken to Sheffield Children’s Hospital on November 18.

Despite the best efforts of doctors there he died five days later.

Yusuf (pictured left and right) died from pneumonia on November 23 after an infection reportedly spread to his lungs and caused multiple organ failure resulting in several cardiac arrests

Mr Ahmed told Sky News: ‘If they would have treated him where we wanted him to be treated he would be here with us now.’ He said that staff repeatedly told them that they did not have any beds available.

He added: ‘They kept saying to us, ‘We’ve got one doctor. What do you want us to do? We’ve got no beds available. What do you want us to do? We’ve got no space for him. What do you want us to do? ‘Complain to the big people, don’t complain to us. Complain to the big ones that only gave us one doctor.’ 

Mr Ahmed said the family has been promised an independently-led NHS inquiry but what they want is an investigation completely external to the health service.

He said: ‘We had a meeting yesterday with the chief executive and the chief nurse of Rotherham Hospital.

‘They gave an apology to myself and the family and they said they wanted an independent investigation led by someone within the NHS but out of the area.

‘But we want a completely external investigation to take place outside of the NHS.’

Mr Ahmed said the family is waiting for a reply to their request, saying: ‘We want answers. They’ve apologised but that doesn’t give us any answers.’

He said the hospital leaders told him they were already addressing some issues that have been raised.

But he added: ‘We want to save other people’s lives, we want to save other children from going through this and we want answers – who is responsible, why are they responsible? We want them to reveal the truth.’

Yusuf’s uncle Zaheer Ahmed (pictured) said the family has been promised an independently-led NHS inquiry but what they want is an investigation completely external to the health service

Mr Ahmed described at weekend how he ‘begged and begged’ for his nephew to be admitted to hospital, but was told ‘there are no beds and not enough doctors’.

Mr Ahmed said on Thursday: ‘It’s a very difficult situation at the moment.

‘We’ve still not come to terms that this has actually happened to us. We can’t bear that feeling that he’s left us.

‘It’s just very difficult for the family and parents to come to terms with.’

Announcing the agreement of an independent investigation on Wednesday, Rotherham MP Sarah Champion said the inquiry needs to find out ‘what went so horribly wrong’.

She said: ‘The Nazir family have been very clear they want no other family to suffer the death of a child in such appalling circumstances. We need to quickly find out what went so horribly wrong.’

The chief executive of Rotherham Hospital has said an independent inquiry has been launched into his death. (Stock image)

Ms Champion said: ‘I have been assured by the chief executive of Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust that an independent investigation is being launched and I will be supporting Yusuf’s family to ensure that it fully investigates their concerns.

‘The circumstances of Yusuf’s death are deeply troubling.

‘It is vital that the investigation considers the role of each organisation involved in his care and, crucially, communication and co-ordination between them. We need ensure that changes are made to prevent this from ever happening again.’

A spokesman for The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘Dr Richard Jenkins, Chief Executive of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, met with Yusuf’s family and again expressed his most sincere condolences to them. The Trust will maintain regular contact with Yusuf’s family over the course of the independent investigation.’

The Rotherham trust spokesman added: ‘It’s essential that Yusuf’s family have confidence in the independence of the investigation so that they can have answers to their concerns. We are working with regional NHS colleagues, outside of Rotherham, to ensure this can be achieved. We will update Yusuf’s family as soon as the necessary arrangements are in place.’

Source: Read Full Article