A hospital trust in South Yorkshire has launched an investigation after the family of a five-year-old boy said he died after being turned away due to a lack of available beds. Yusuf Ahmed died on Monday after a tonsil infection spread to his lungs, causing multiple organ failure.
Yusuf was taken to Rotherham General Hospital by his uncle Zaheer Ahmed on 14 November with a sore throat. He had been prescribed antibiotics by his GP the previous day, but his condition had not improved. Zaheer said they waited all night, and a doctor sent Yusuf home despite describing it as 'the worst case of tonsillitis he had ever seen'.
Speaking to Sky News, Zaheer said: 'If they would have treated him where we wanted him to be treated he would be here with us now. We begged and begged and begged for help. We couldn’t get it.' He added that staff told them: 'We’ve got one doctor. What do you want us to do? We’ve got no beds available.'
Yusuf returned home but struggled to breathe and could not swallow. He was later taken to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, but the infection had spread to his lungs, leading to multiple organ failure and several cardiac arrests. He died of pneumonia.
Dr Richard Jenkins, chief executive of the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, offered condolences and said: 'We have commenced a thorough investigation into Yusuf’s care, which will include liaison with Sheffield Children’s NHS foundation trust.' He noted that the trust does not provide paediatric intensive care beds, which are available at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
