A father whose five-year-old son passed away due to suspected NHS shortcomings is still actively seeking justice nearly three years later. Haroon Rashid, a 43-year-old resident of Sheffield, has been persistently seeking answers since the tragic death of his son, Muhammad Ayaan Haroon, in March 2023. Earlier this year, a preliminary report unveiled distressing details regarding the family’s experience with bereavement care, highlighting instances where hospital personnel were heard laughing while Ayaan’s life support was being turned off.
Following the findings of a report by Niche Health and Social Care Consulting suggesting that enhancements to Ayaan’s care would not have averted his death, the family is urging for a fresh investigation. They argue that substantial failings within the NHS contributed to his demise, citing delays in providing Ayaan with high-flow oxygen, a chest drain, and intubation. Haroon, a taxi driver with three daughters, expressed his frustration, stating, “As Ayaan’s father, I witnessed his suffering for those eight days. His life was not lost due to his inability to combat the virus but because of critical lapses in his treatment.”
Ayaan, who suffered from a rare genetic condition named Hace 1 and had a history of respiratory issues, had been admitted to Sheffield Children’s Hospital on five occasions. Tragically, he succumbed in 2023 to overwhelming disseminated adenovirus bronchopneumonia. The initial report indicated that Ayaan received care below the expected standard, noting delays in initiating high-flow oxygen therapy and a four-hour lag in transferring him to the pediatric intensive care unit.
For Haroon, the ongoing battle with the NHS has compounded the grief from his heartbreaking loss. He criticized the NHS complaints system as being overly complex to navigate. Adding to his distress was an inadvertent email from NHS chief executive Sir Jim Mackey’s office, which inadvertently shared personal details about the family’s case with numerous journalists.
Acknowledging human fallibility, Haroon emphasized the importance of the NHS admitting mistakes and working collaboratively with affected families to ensure genuine lessons are learned. The Rashid family’s plight has drawn parallels with the tragic death of Yusuf Nazir, another five-year-old who passed away at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Both families have raised concerns about the adequacy of investigations into their cases and advocate for improved communication between parents and medical professionals.
In a positive light, Haroon shared that his 15-year-old daughter Aroob, who shares Ayaan’s condition, is leading a healthy life and actively supporting charitable causes. Dr. Jeff Perring, the Executive Medical Director at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, affirmed their commitment to engaging with the family to understand and learn from their experience.
A spokesperson from Niche indicated readiness to assist the family in escalating their concerns to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for further review.
