London: The death of a five-year-old boy after being sent home from a hospital allegedly understaffed and lacking equipment will be the subject of an independent inquiry.
Rotherham Hospital in South Yorkshire, in the northern part of England, refused to admit Yousuf Mahmood Nazir despite having a severe throat infection.
His uncle Zaheer Ahmed claimed that when he "begged" his nephew to help more, he replied that there were "no doctors" and "no beds" in the children's ward.
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According to Ahmad, who spoke to British media, Yusuf developed a sore throat on 13 November and was treated with antibiotics by the family doctor.
When his condition deteriorated quickly, he was taken to Rotherham Hospital, but the staff there refused to admit him and sent him home.
Yusuf was taken by ambulance to Sheffield Children's Hospital on 18 November as he was unable to speak, eat or drink. There he was treated immediately, but despite being given intravenous antibiotics, he died on 23 November.
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Otherum Hospital originally said it would conduct an internal investigation; However, on Thursday the hospital's chief executive, Dr Richard Jenkins, said investigators from outside South Yorkshire would review the case.
He claimed in a letter to the district's MP Sarah Champion that he was co-operating with NHS England to "identify appropriate independent investigators".
Champion expressed his relief at the news that the family's needs and wishes have been taken into account and an independent investigation will be conducted. Independent is the important piece. It needs to be extremely durable and independent.
"To express his condolences and apologies to the family directly," Jenkins claimed he spoke to Joseph's uncle.
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Yusuf's family acknowledged receiving an apology, but said it was insufficient, saying, "They have apologised, but it doesn't give us any answers."