A father of five died of suspected liver failure 36 hours after casualty staff sent him home - saying he was only suffering from anxiety and depression.

Shocked relatives are considering legal action after they claim FOUR visits to hospital and THREE to Abdul Waqar Sheir's GP failed to diagnose his problem.

Now bosses at Bradford Royal Infirmary have launched an investigation into the case of Mr Sheir, of Lytton Grove, Bradford. They say Mr Sheir, 34, was fit and healthy four weeks ago - and was well enough to be doing DIY at his home.

Then he began complaining of pain, a badly swollen abdomen, swollen limbs and neck and being unable to eat or sleep.

His shocked family say he went four times to Bradford Royal Infirmary - twice on May 3, once on May 6, and finally on May 8, and three times to his GP, Dr Usama Shahid of Bilton Medical Centre in City Road, but they claim no-one diagnosed his life-threatening liver condition.

Just 36 hours before his death he went to the accident and emergency department at BRI but medical staff did not admit him to hospital. He collapsed in the waiting room and fellow patients helped him to his feet.

Relatives say they were told he was suffering from 'anxiety and depression' and he was sent home. Two days later he was rushed into hospital again and had collapsed and died within hours.

The family were told a post-mortem examination has revealed the cause of death as liver failure, according to relatives.

His brother Abdul Rashid Sheir said: "We are laymen not medical experts but we could see there was something very wrong.

"He went to the hospital accident and emergency department because he kept collapsing.

"He was gradually getting worse over a few weeks but we were never given a diagnosis of what was wrong with him. They didn't think it was serious.

"We could see he was seriously ill. They said his condition was due to depression and anxiety," Mr Sheir claimed.

"Four weeks ago he was assembling units from MFI at his home - but his weight soared in two weeks, he ballooned and it was obvious something was wrong."

Mr Sheir, who was born in Bradford and attended Fairfax Community School, leaves a wife Farmin and five children. Relatives described him as a gentle, loving person who enjoyed playing cricket with his children in the local park, reading and playing Monopoly.

An inquest into Mr Sheir's death has been opened and adjourned.

A spokesman for Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We extend our sympathies to Mr Sheir's family at this sad time.

"The matter is now in the hands of the coroner and we are co-operating fully with his office in helping to determine the cause of death.

"In addition we have also launched our own investigation to establish the exact circumstances surrounding his death.

"For reasons of patient confidentiality, and also because the Coroner's inquiry is still in progress, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment in public about this particular case."

A spokesman for the Bilton Medical Centre said the practice would not comment on the case.

But today Bradford West MP Marsha Singh said: "I am utterly shocked at what's happened and my sympathies go to the family. There was obviously something seriously physically wrong with Mr Sheir that wasn't picked up - I am very surprised."

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