Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Pregnant mother with Covid and her baby died due to poor treatment in Leytonstone hospital

Sumera Haq, 37, was a primary school teacher at South Grove Primary School in Walthamstow.

Pregnant mother with Covid and her baby died due to poor treatment in Leytonstone hospital

AN inquest has heard that an east London hospital failed in delivering multi-disciplinary planning, close monitoring and appropriate escalation which led to the death of a pregnant mother-of-three and her baby last year, media reports said.

Sumera Haq, 37,and her new born Ayra Butt died just two days apart after she was transferred to unsuitable ward at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone in August 2021.


Haq, a primary school teacher at South Grove Primary School in Walthamstow, contracted the coronavirus when she was eight months' pregnant with her third child. At the hospital, the initial treatment was given in the Labour ward, when her situation worsened she was shifted to the medical ward. After three days, she died from multiple organ failure, abdominal bleeding, Covid-19 infection and pneumonia on August 14, an inquest found.

It added that Haq was suffering an acute kidney injury and on August 11 her level of haemoglobin was too low.

Her child Ayra Butt, was delivered by caesarean section, but she lived only 15 minutes despite efforts to save her.

The inquest at East London Coroner's Court said that Haq was inappropriately transferred to a medical ward and died following 'a lack of clinical leadership', the MailOnline reported.

Coroner Nadia Persaud ruled that the patient should not have been given blood thinners and no 'adequate emergency action' was taken before her death.

Her husband, Kasim Butt, a delivery driver, said that last year has been 'a living nightmare' which he 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. 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," he was quoted as saying by media outlets.

“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. 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."

Taylor Hackett, an expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell which is representing Butt, told The Sun: “It’s now vital that lessons are learned following the several concerns that the inquest has identified in Sumera’s care. This is a truly tragic case in which Kasim and the rest of Sumera’s family remain traumatised by their loss.”

Reports said that more than £20,000 was raised by well-wishers to be donated to orphanages in Third World countries on behalf of the child.

“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. Whipps Cross Hospital has made significant improvements since to ensure this does not happen again," a spokesperson for Whipps Cross Hospital was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

More For You

Modi & Trump

Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025.

Reuters

Trump greets Modi on 75th birthday, trade talks continue in Delhi

Highlights:

  • Both leaders reaffirm commitment to India-US partnership
  • Trade talks resume in New Delhi amid tariff tensions
  • India defends purchase of discounted Russian oil

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday called Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and greeted him ahead of his 75th birthday. The phone call sparked hopes of a reset in India-US ties, which had been under strain after Washington doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Forecasters say 30–40mm of rain is likely to fall widely

iStock

Met Office issues yellow weather warnings as heavy rain threatens flooding in 15 UK areas

Highlights:

  • Two yellow weather warnings issued for parts of Wales and the Midlands
  • Up to 70mm of rain expected, bringing risk of flooding, power cuts and travel delays
  • Flood alerts in place for rivers in Cumbria, Devon, Cornwall and Carmarthenshire
  • Residents advised to prepare emergency kits and stay updated with forecasts

Heavy rainfall set to cause disruption

The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings covering parts of Wales and the Midlands today, with forecasters warning of potential flooding, travel disruption and power cuts. Between 6am and 11am, persistent downpours are expected to sweep eastwards, bringing nearly a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours.

Areas under warning

South and southwest Wales are expected to be worst affected, with Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd and Powys in the Midlands also on alert. In Wales, warnings apply to Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Donald Trump and Melania Trump

Donald Trump and Melania Trump exit Air Force One after arriving at London Stansted Airport for a state visit on September 16, 2025 in Stansted, Essex.

Getty Images

UK rolls out royal welcome as Trump begins second state visit

Highlights:

  • Trump begins his second state visit to the UK with a royal welcome at Windsor Castle
  • Prince William, Catherine, King Charles and Queen Camilla take part in ceremony
  • State banquet and trade talks with prime minister Keir Starmer scheduled
  • Protests and security operation mark visit amid political challenges

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump began his unprecedented second state visit to Britain on Wednesday with a lavish welcome from King Charles and the royal family at Windsor Castle.

Keep ReadingShow less
11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vantara

The site, located in Gujarat, houses hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, and 900 crocodiles. (Photo: Instagram/Vantara)

India court probe clears Ambani family’s animal centre

AN INDIAN Supreme Court-ordered investigation has cleared a large private animal facility run by the son of Asia’s richest man, rejecting allegations of wildlife violations.

Vantara, described as the “world’s biggest wild animal rescue centre,” is operated by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Keep ReadingShow less