Child Hospitalized After Severe Neglect by Support Services

A ten-year-old boy, known as Abdur, was hospitalized for severe malnourishment and vitamin deficiencies after critical neglect by support services in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The boy, who was already under a care order due to his mother’s long-standing issues with drug addiction, faced life-threatening health problems that were overlooked despite multiple alerts from his school.

The safeguarding review, published recently, highlights a disturbing pattern of negligence. Abdur was admitted with severe conditions including anaemia and scurvy, which resulted in significant pain and required the extraction of four teeth. His state deteriorated over several weeks in early 2023, prompting school staff to report his rapid weight loss and signs of neglect to social services on 38 occasions. These reports included alarming details about his lunch, which often consisted of only “dry, and on one occasion mouldy, bread and water.”

Despite the numerous alerts, social services failed to act appropriately. Instead of addressing the concerns, they were in the process of reducing Abdur’s care plan. During this time, he suffered a knee injury that was dismissed by his mother and stepfather, who claimed he was not in pain. In reality, Abdur was experiencing extreme discomfort due to a severe lack of vitamins, which hindered his ability to walk. His struggle to return to school from a doctor’s appointment led him to flag down a stranger’s car, exposing him to significant risk.

Abdur’s health issues went unnoticed during multiple visits to the emergency department and a general practitioner. It was only through the intervention of his school nurse that he was admitted to a pediatric hospital. Experts have indicated that his condition was preventable and could have escalated to life-threatening levels if he had not received timely treatment.

The safeguarding report, commissioned shortly after the incident, indicates that there were numerous “missed opportunities” to address Abdur’s needs. The findings reveal that he had been expressing feelings of illness and unhappiness to school professionals for some time. The report stated, “The signs were there,” emphasizing that regular multi-agency meetings in the year leading up to the incident could have facilitated a more comprehensive exploration of the concerns raised.

The report also criticized the disproportionate weight given to his mother’s alternative explanations, which overshadowed Abdur’s own voice. Currently, he remains under a full care order at home with his mother, stepfather, and half-siblings.

In a statement regarding the case, Shaid Mushtaq, the cabinet member for children and young people in Oldham, expressed deep regret over the situation. He stated, “This is a deeply distressing case, and my thoughts are first and foremost with Abdur and his family. No child should ever have to experience what they went through, and as a council we are truly sorry for the pain and trauma they have suffered.”

Mushtaq highlighted that while some professionals demonstrated dedication and care, there were significant areas for improvement. He assured that the council has taken the findings seriously and implemented changes to strengthen their safeguarding practices. These changes include earlier identification of risk, improved coordination between agencies, and a renewed focus on ensuring that every child’s voice is genuinely heard and acted upon.

The council’s safeguarding partnership now operates with enhanced oversight, stronger accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement in child welfare practices.