Covid-stricken pregnant teacher and her baby die amid a 'lot of negligence' in hospital

A Covid-stricken pregnant teacher and her baby died in hospital amid a "lot of negligence" in her care, an inquest heard.

A coroner investigating the death of 37-year-old mum-of-two Sumera Haq will look at what maternity medics told her about the risks of Covid and getting vaccinated during pregnancy.

The preliminary inquest hearing heard medical “negligence” claims from the mum-of-two’s grieving husband.

Named only as Mr Butt, he said consultant Dr Abu Habsa of Barts Health NHS Trust made the comments after her care was handed over to him on the day of her death.

On Monday he told Waltham Forest Coroner’s Court: “He said he didn’t understand why my wife was in that position and he did say he does ‘believe a lot of negligence has taken place’, those were his exact words to me.”

The preliminary inquest heard the popular teacher at South Grove Primary School died six months ago to the day on August 14 last year.

She was pronounced dead at Whipps Cross University Hospital in Leytonstone, east London, and her baby daughter was stillborn.

Area coroner for east London Nadia Persaud said she will look into her diagnosis of Covid and the “information provided to her about the risks of Covid in pregnancy and the risks of the vaccine” when she attended hospital suffering from reduced foetal movements on July 31 last year.

She will also investigate the care Miss Haq, of Waltham Forest, east London, received at the hospital from August 7 until her death and a 111 call made on August 3.

Ms Persaud told the hearing that a draft Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) report found that her daughter was pronounced dead at nine minutes of age - but that stillbirths at less than 37 weeks’ pregnancy do not trigger inquest investigations.

She added: “I think the HSIB raises areas where there’s an indication the outcome may have been different.”

After a two day inquest was scheduled for July 11 and 12, a female relative told the court: “It’s been six months today and it’s just been a time of anxiety for everybody and July seems like forever away.”

Miss Haq’s headteacher paid tribute to the much-loved teacher and more than £20,000 was raised on a JustGiving page for good causes following her death.

Headteacher Julie Maltwood said in a letter to her school: “It is with deep regret and sadness that I am sending this message to you.

“Tragically Miss Haq passed away on the 14th August, as did her baby daughter that she was expecting. She leaves her husband and two young children.

“She started teaching here at South Grove in September 2018 and was a

dedicated teacher in both Years 3 and 4 during this time. She loved working with

the children, and with such a calm and caring nature, the children really loved

being in her class.”

She added: “Miss Haq was local to the area and has touched the lives of many families and

children in the school and local community.

“She will be missed deeply by all the school community and it will be hard to come

back in September knowing that she will not be with us.

“But we need to build on her legacy of being such a lovely person both inside and

out, always with a smile and a kind word for everyone at South Grove.”

Ms Maltwood said a “fitting memory” was being planned with her family, colleagues and friends for the Autumn term and asked people to donate to the family’s charity fundraiser. If you feel this work merits it, please consider sharing, getting in touch or making a contribution to this page to allow me to continue reporting more stories like this. On a mobile, you can donate by clicking on the menu at the top-right of your screen, and selecting donate. Many thanks, Berny