Inquiry as baby boy dies in A&E

Ahil had suffered minor burns from a cup of tea

An inquiry has begun after a baby boy with minor burns from a spilt cup of tea died in a hospital casualty ward.

Thirteen-month-old Ahil Islam was transferred to Watford General last week, after developing an infection while being treated for the burn.

His parents say they expected him to be rushed to a ward, but instead he was kept waiting in A&E until he died four hours later.

The hospital said Ahil received "care and attention" in A&E.

Zia and Nazmin Islam's son was originally taken to Mount Vernon Hospital in Northwood, north-west London, suffering minor burns.

When does a patient become a high priority? When they are about to die? Zia Islam

Over the next few days he developed an infection and was transferred to Watford General last Tuesday, suffering from severe dehydration and diarrhoea.

His family, from Watford, say when he arrived in an ambulance, they expected him to be taken straight to a ward.

Instead he was kept in A&E to be assessed, where they say although they repeatedly asked for help, they were not made a priority.

Mr Islam, 37, told BBC London: "Every single time we asked something, they said 'oh someone will see you, wait for it, they are busy, they are doing other things, they are prioritising their work'.

Ahil's parents said they were not made a priority

"We were never given priority. When does a patient become a high priority? When they are about to die? When they are dead? What's the point of changing priority then?"

Another mother who was in casualty at the time, Lisa Baughn, was so upset by what was happening she told BBC London she and her boyfriend decided to leave.

Herts Partnership NHS Trust said it was very sympathetic to the Islam family and an inquiry had begun.

Spokeswoman Linda McQuaid said: "I'm not at liberty to divulge any details of the treatment, but suffice to say the records do show that he was receiving care and attention throughout that four-hour period."