A father from Sheffield has said he feels like he is "fighting some kind of mafia" in a near three-year battle for justice from the NHS following the death of his five-year-old son.
A Father's Unending Grief and Quest for Answers
Haroon Rashid, 43, has been searching for answers since his son, Muhammad Ayaan Haroon, known as Ayaan, died in March 2023. The taxi driver, who has three daughters, alleges that "catastrophic failings" in his son's care at Sheffield Children's Hospital led to the tragedy, not the illness itself.
Ayaan, who had a rare genetic condition called Hace 1 and a history of respiratory issues, died from overwhelming disseminated adenovirus bronchopneumonia. He had been admitted to the hospital five times during his short life.
"I saw him suffer for those eight days, and his life was lost not because he wasn't able to fight this virus. It was because of catastrophic failings in his care," Haroon stated. "I just wasn't listened to. It was clear there was not enough staff there."
Damning Report and a Painful Wait
A draft report produced earlier this year by Niche Health and Social Care Consulting detailed a devastating account of bereavement care. It described how the family could hear hospital staff laughing as Ayaan's life support machine was switched off.
The report concluded that Ayaan received a below expected standard of care. It identified specific failures, including a delay in starting high-flow oxygen therapy and a four-hour delay in admitting him to the paediatric intensive care unit. A delay in providing a chest drain and intubation were also cited by the family.
However, the report also stated that improvements to Ayaan's care would not have saved his life, a conclusion the family strongly disputes. They have called for a new investigation.
Haroon had been promised the final report by the end of this year but recently received a letter stating it will not be shared with him until April 2025, prolonging the agonising wait.
'A System That Tries to Silence You'
Haroon claims the fight for transparency has compounded his family's grief. He describes the NHS complaints system as impossible to navigate and alleges the service "will do anything to silence you".
This feeling was exacerbated by a serious data breach. An email from the office of NHS chief executive Sir Jim Mackey, containing personal details about the family's case, was mistakenly sent to a chain including dozens of journalists. The incident was reported to the data protection office, which apologised, as did the NHS.
"We were targeted as part of a vicious witchhunt, to do anything the NHS could to silence us," Haroon said. "The NHS makes mistakes, they are human beings. We accept that... but when things go wrong, they should just hold their hands up and say, we got it wrong and apologise to families and work with them to ensure genuine lessons are learned."
The family's case has drawn parallels with the death of five-year-old Yusuf Nazir, who also died at Sheffield Children's Hospital. Yusuf's family branded their report a "cover-up" and are campaigning for "Yusuf's Law" to ensure parents' voices are heard.
A Legacy of Love and a Continued Fight
Haroon remembers Ayaan as a "lovely, joyful little boy" who was "always so happy, smiling, even through complex treatment plans". His 15-year-old sister, Aroob, who has the same genetic condition, is living a healthy life, which the family says proves Ayaan's death was not inevitable.
"His sister's been left with a void of her cherished little brother," Haroon explained. "She's grown to turn her grief into purpose. She's raising thousands for charities. She's speaking up for the rights of children like Ayaan. I'm fighting my fight for justice but my daughter is also fighting her fight for justice for her brother."
Despite losing trust in the process, Haroon vows to continue. "I sincerely hope that this fight for justice results in genuine changes, genuine lessons... so no one else's child suffers that," he said.
Official Responses
Dr Jeff Perring, Executive Medical Director at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We have offered our sincere condolences to Ayaan’s family for the loss and distress they have experienced. We are continuing to work closely with the family to listen and learn from their experience."
A spokesperson for Niche said: "We would again like to offer our sincere condolences to Ayaan's family. It is understandable that the family want justice and accountability for their much-loved son."
They noted the family submitted a further 750 pages of comments on the draft report in November, which is being carefully reviewed. The spokesperson added that the family may wish to take their concerns to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, a process Niche would support.
