Child who left hospital as baby then ‘slipped off the radar of society’

The NSPCC said that Hamzah “became invisible” the moment he left hospital after he was born.

After Hamzah’s birth on June 17, 2005, he was seen by a midwife a week later and a health visitor a fortnight after that – but the appointment was the last time he was ever seen by a health professional.

He missed a series of appointments at hospital, with health visitors and GPs, and he did not receive routine immunisations.

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC said: “Tragically Hamzah became invisible, slipping off the radar of our entire society the moment he left hospital after birth. We have to ask how this could happen in 21st century Britain.

“His mother made no attempt to register his birth; he missed midwife appointments, health visitor checks, immunisations; and he was never registered for school.

“A red flag must be raised when key appointments are missed so that children cannot disappear. It cannot be right that the first time someone took serious steps to track him down was six years after his birth by which time he was already dead.”

Dame Clare Tickell, chief executive at charity Action for Children, added: “Children at risk of dying at the hands of their parents are crying out for help but they aren’t being heard.

“More support for professionals who work with neglected children is vital; they must be allowed to trust their instincts and escalate their concerns.”