A pregnant mum died days after her baby after she caught Covid and was transferred to an "unsuitable" ward. A coroner also ruled there was no “adequate emergency action” taken before Sumera Haq suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
Speaking after an inquest into her death, Sumera's devastated husband spoke of the horror of watching both his wife and baby Ayra die. And the pain of having to tell his eight and five-year-old children their "mummy wasn't coming home".
"Those few days and trying to come to terms with the death of Ayra, whilst Sumera was also slipping away from us is something I’m not sure I’ll ever get over," said Kasim Butt. "When I saw Ayra she was beautiful. I just held her and cried my eyes out. I’ll cherish what little but precious time I had with her.”
Sumera was 37 and eight months’ pregnant with her third child when she contracted coronavirus. Suffering severe stomach pains and worsening shortness of breath, she was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, east London.
Initially treated on a labour ward, the primary school teacher was transferred to a medical ward two days later when her respiratory function worsened. But her condition deteriorated and she suffered a cardiac arrest three days later.
Her baby, Ayra Butt, was delivered by caesarean section, but she had no signs of life. Despite medics trying to resuscitate her, the baby was pronounced dead just 15 minutes after birth.
Sumera was given emergency treatment, but her condition caused by Covid pneumonitis continued to deteriorate and she tragically died on August 14. An inquest at East London Coroner’s Court found Ms Haq was inappropriately transferred to a medical ward and died following a lack of clinical leadership.
There was also a lack of 'multi-disciplinary planning' and a lack of close monitoring as well as a lack of 'appropriate escalation' due to her deterioration before she suffered the cardiac arrest, the hearing heard. Kasim described the last year as "a living nightmare" after suffering the double heartbreak of losing his wife and daughter.
The 41-year-old delivery driver said: “It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe the hurt and pain our family feels. The last year has been a living nightmare which I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
"Sumera was a wonderful wife and the best mum any child could ever want. She went out of her way to help others and her death at an age when she had her best years ahead of her, has been particularly difficult to come to terms with."
Sumera tested positive for Covid-19 in late July and sought medical advice in the previous days due to her symptoms. Medical observations showed she was suffering an acute kidney injury and on August 11 her level of haemoglobin – a protein that carries oxygen around the body – was considered to be concerning low, the inquest was told.
In the early hours of the following morning, her condition deteriorated. At 7am she was administered blood thinners and not long after, the emergency buzzer was pressed and she needed help from healthcare staff.
Her observations were monitored and she continued to deteriorate and shortly after 9am she suffered a cardiac arrest. A decision was then made to deliver Ayra by caesarean section at 9.30am. Ms Haq was rushed to emergency surgery where doctors found a haematoma – a collection of clotted blood – in her abdomen, but could not find the source of the bleeding, the inquest heard.
Surgeons carried out a hysterectomy and Ms Haq was transferred to intensive care and put on a ventilator, but her condition continued to get worse and she died. The inquest found she died from multiple organ failure, abdominal bleeding, Covid-19 infection and pneumonia.
Coroner Nadia Persaud recorded a narrative conclusion and found the medical ward Ms Haq was transferred to “was not an appropriate clinical setting for her”. She should not have been given blood thinners and no “adequate emergency action” was taken before she suffered cardiac arrest,
The coroner also said there was no overall named consultant in charge of her care or a full multi-disciplinary meeting in planning her treatment. "Insufficient regard" was taken of her acute kidney injury and no action was taken in response to Ms Haq’s concerningly low haemoglobin and persistent abdominal pain.
Mr Butt said: “Being at Sumera’s bedside and holding her hand as her body shut down in front of my eyes and knowing there wasn’t anything I could do to help or save her was heart-breaking. I couldn’t stop thinking about our other children and how I was going to tell them their mummy wasn’t coming home.
“For nearly a year we’ve had so many questions about what happened. While the inquest and listening to the evidence has been incredibly traumatic, it was something I needed to do to honour Sumera’s memory.
“I know nothing can bring Sumera back, or fill the void in our lives, but our family takes some comfort in at least now having some answers to our questions. I just hope nobody else has to go through the pain we have.”
Taylor Hackett, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Mr Butt, said: “This is a truly tragic case in which Kasim and the rest of Sumera’s family remain traumatised by their loss. It’s now vital that lessons are learned following the several concerns that the inquest has identified in Sumera’s care."
Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs Whipps Cross Hospital, said the standard of care Ms Haq received was not good enough but that improvements have since been made. A spokesman added: "We offer our sincere condolences to the family of Sumera Haq, the standard of care she should have received was not met on this occasion."
