Overview
- Sheffield Coroners’ Court halted the inquest after late information suggested a DNA sample might be obtainable to explore an underlying condition.
- The court will look at retrieving Yusuf’s newborn Guthrie card, a heel‑prick blood spot kept for screening, and the coroner warned any results could take months and might not move the case forward.
- Speaking outside court, Yusuf’s uncle said the delay was frustrating but the family supports any steps that could explain why the five‑year‑old died.
- Yusuf, who had asthma, saw a GP on November 15, 2022, then waited six hours at Rotherham A&E where he was sent home with antibiotics, deteriorated after further GP treatment, and died at Sheffield Children’s Hospital on November 23 following ICU admission.
- An official report in July 2025 found parental concerns were repeatedly not addressed across services, mirroring the family’s claim that Rotherham A&E cited no beds and too few doctors and reinforcing their call for independent scrutiny.