Independent inquiry launched into death of Rotherham boy sent home from hospital
5-year-old Yusuf Zahir died last month
Last updated 1st Dec 2022
An independent investigation has been launched into the death of a five-year-old boy in Rotherham whose family say he died after he was sent home from hospital because there were "no beds".
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 uncle Zaheer Ahmed said on Saturday that he "begged and begged" for his nephew to be admitted to hospital but was told "there are no beds and not enough doctors".
Announcing the agreement of an independent investigation, 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. I have worked with them to secure a rapid and independent inquiry.
"We need to make sure the inquiry covers the primary and secondary care organisations involved in Yusuf's diagnosis, care and treatment."
Ms Champion added that she has been assured an independent investigation is being launched.
She 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.
"I will be doing all that I can to continue supporting Yusuf's family at this extremely difficult time and make sure their wishes are respected."
He had 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 of Rotherham General 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 Mr Ahmed.
The boy was distressed, struggling to breathe and could not swallow, his family say.
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.
Mr Ahmed said: "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'."
Dr Richard Jenkins, Chief Executive of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Yusuf’s family.
“We have commenced a thorough investigation into Yusuf’s care, which will include liaison with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. We have contacted the family and will continue to do so as part of the investigation.
“I want to assure families that we have an appropriately staffed medical paediatric service who provide support to our medical colleagues working within our Urgent Emergency Care Centre when required. We, like other District General Hospitals in the South Yorkshire region, do not provide paediatric intensive care beds. The Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist Trust who do provide paediatric intensive care beds.”