A pregnant mother of three and her baby died just two days apart after being caught COVID-19 and was transferred to an inappropriate department, has heard a judicial inquiry.
Sumera Haq, 37, was eight months pregnant with her third child when she contracted the virus and developed severe abdominal pain and increasing shortness of breath.
She was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital in East Leytonstone Londonand initially treated in a maternity ward.
Two days later, on August 9, last year, the primary school teacher was transferred to a medical ward after her respiratory function deteriorated, but her condition worsened, and three days later she went into cardiac arrest.
Ayra Butt gave birth by cesarean section but she had no sign of life and despite medics trying to resuscitate her, the baby was pronounced dead just 15 minutes after birth.
Ms Haq received emergency treatment, but her condition, caused by Covid pneumonitis, continued to deteriorate and she died on August 14.
Sumera Haq (second from left), 37, was eight months pregnant with her third child when she contracted the coronavirus and developed severe abdominal pain and worsening shortness of breath. Pictured: Ms Haq is seen with her two children and husband
An inquest at the East London Coroner’s Court, which closed on July 14 this year, found that Ms Haq had been improperly transferred to a medical ward and died due to a lack of clinical leadership.
The investigation found that she died of multiple organ failure, abdominal bleeding, Covid-19 infection and pneumonia.
There was also a lack of “multidisciplinary planning” and a lack of close monitoring, as well as a lack of “appropriate escalation” because of her deterioration before she went into cardiac arrest, the hearing heard.
MailOnline has approached Barts Health NHS Trust – which runs Whipps Cross Hospital – for comment.
Kasim Butt, her husband, described the past year as “a living nightmare” after the double heartbreak of the loss of his wife and daughter.
The 41-year-old delivery boy said on Wednesday: “It is almost impossible to find the words to describe the pain and pain our family is feeling. The past year has been a living nightmare that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
‘Sumera was a wonderful woman and the best mother a child could wish for. She went out of her way to help others and her death at an age where her best years were ahead of her was extremely difficult to deal with.
“Those few days and trying to cope with Ayra’s death while Sumera slipped away from us too, is something I’m not sure I’ll ever get over.
‘When I saw Ayra, she was beautiful. I just held her and cried my eyes out. I will cherish the small but precious time I had with her.’
Ms Haq, who tested positive for Covid-19 in late July, was admitted by ambulance to Whipps Cross on August 7 after complaining of severe abdominal pain and increasing shortness of breath.
She had been seeking medical advice for the past few days because of her symptoms.
Sumera Haq was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, and initially treated in an obstetrics ward. Two days later, on August 9, last year, the primary school teacher was transferred to a medical ward after her respiratory function deteriorated, but her condition worsened, and three days later she went into cardiac arrest.
Medical observations showed that Ms Haq suffered an acute kidney injury, and on Aug. 11, her hemoglobin level — a protein that carries oxygen around the body — was considered worryingly low, the study was told.
In the early hours of the next morning, her condition worsened, the hearing heard.
At 7 am she was given blood thinners and not long after the emergency buzzer was pressed and she needed help from healthcare personnel.
Her observations were monitored and she continued to deteriorate and shortly after 9:00 am Ms. Haq went into cardiac arrest.
It was decided to give Ayra a caesarean section at 9:30 am, but Ayra was born with no signs of life and CPR was started.
However, CPR attempts were unsuccessful and the decision to stop CPR was made at 15 minutes of age.
Ms Haq was rushed to emergency surgery where doctors found a hematoma – a collection of clotted blood – in her abdomen, but could not locate the source of the bleeding, the investigation said.
Surgeons performed a hysterectomy and Ms Haq was transferred to the intensive care unit and on a ventilator, but her condition continued to deteriorate and she died.
Ayra Butt gave birth by cesarean section but she had no sign of life and despite medics trying to resuscitate her, the baby was pronounced dead just 15 minutes after birth. Ms Haq received emergency treatment but her condition, caused by Covid pneumonitis, continued to deteriorate and she died on August 14
Coroner Nadia Persaud made a narrative conclusion, finding that the medical ward to which Ms Haq had been transferred “was not an appropriate clinical setting for her.”
She had not been on blood thinners and no “adequate emergency measure” had been taken before she went into cardiac arrest, the coroner ruled.
The coroner also said there was no widely recognized counselor responsible for her care and there was no full multidisciplinary meeting in planning her treatment.
Her acute kidney injury was “inadequately taken into account” and no action was taken on Ms Haq’s worryingly low hemoglobin levels and persistent abdominal pain, the coroner added.
Mr Butt said: ‘It was heartbreaking to be at Sumera’s bed holding her hand as her body closed before my eyes and to know there was nothing I could do to help or save her.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about our other kids and how I was going to tell them their mama wasn’t coming home.
“For almost a year now, we’ve had so many questions about what happened. While the investigation and listening to the evidence was incredibly traumatic, it was something I had to do to honor Sumera’s memory.
“I know that nothing can bring Sumera back, or fill the void in our lives, but our family takes some comfort in having at least some answers to our questions now. I just hope no one else has to endure the pain we have.”
An inquest at the East London coroner’s office concluded on July 14 this year found that Ms Haq (pictured) was inappropriately transferred to a medical ward and died following a lack of clinical leadership
Mr Butt hired medical negligence lawyers to get answers and support his family — including the couple’s other children, ages eight and five — through an investigation into his wife’s death.
Taylor Hackett, the expert medical negligence attorney at Irwin Mitchell who represents Mr Butt, said: ‘This is a truly tragic case in which Kasim and the rest of Sumera’s family remain traumatized by their loss.
“Understandably, Kasim has had some concerns and questions about the events leading up to his wife’s death.
“While nothing can make up for what happened, we are happy that at least we were able to support the family in their search for answers.
It is now vital that lessons are learned from the various concerns raised by Sumera during the investigation.
“In the meantime, we will continue to support the family to help them cope with their loss as best we can during this harrowing time.”