NHS England North East and Yorkshire, in consultation with South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, have now appointed an external agency to conduct an independent review following Yusuf Mahmud Nazir’s death. 

After meeting with Yusuf’s family on Friday 13 January 2023, Terms of Reference have now been finalised and the investigative process commenced. 

Background

• Yusuf Mahmud Nazir was five years old when he died on 23 November 2022 after suffering from a severe infection that spread to his lungs and caused multiple organ failure, resulting in cardiac arrests.
• On Sunday 13 November 2022, Yusuf developed a high temperature and was generally feeling unwell. By Monday 14 November 2022, he was complaining of a sore throat and was unable to swallow solid food.
• On 15 November 2022, a nurse at Yusuf’s GP Surgery prescribed antibiotics for a sore throat. Yusuf’s condition did not improve and he experienced breathing difficulties, so his family drove him to the Emergency Department of Rotherham General Hospital. A doctor that examined Yusuf said he had the ‘worst case of tonsillitis he had ever seen’. Yusuf was not admitted to hospital.
• On 18 November 2022, Yusuf’s uncle, Zaheer Ahmed, called Yusuf’s GP and then Rotherham General Hospital begging for his nephew to be admitted, but was told ‘there are no beds and not enough doctors’. Yusuf was distressed, struggling to breathe, and could not swallow.
• On the same day, the family called 999. An ambulance took Yusuf to Sheffield Children’s Hospital. However, his condition deteriorated, and he sadly died on 23 November 2022.
• The Chief Executive of Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust has apologised to the family for the care provided.

Yusuf’s family are represented by Anna Thwaites, partner at Bindmans LLP, and Adam Wagner, barrister at Doughty Street Chambers. They both specialise in human rights, inquests and public inquiries, and have extensive experience acting for families who have been bereaved after failings of the state.