‘True friend and colleague’

DR Kumar’s father, Ravi, paid tribute to his daughter at the inquest.

He said his daughter was a “colourful character who was a “much-loved and highly respected doctor.”

At Birmingham Coroner’s Court, her father said: “We called Vaishnavi, ‘Vaish’. She was my wife and I’s only child. She was really close to us and her grandparents. As a child Vaish was caring, compassionate and always helping others. She never wanted to be a problem to others.

“She always wanted to be a doctor from a young age and looked up to me as I am a doctor. Vaish was always focused. She passed her driving test in the first attempt allowing her to drive to secondary school.

“After getting her required grades, Vaish chose Leicester Medical School to start her clinical career. She was passionate about diabetes and endocrinology.”

She went on to be enrolled in a diabetes and endocrinology training programme in the West Midlands. She was also a chief registrar for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust during the pandemic.

“Her dedication, hard work and her ability to get everyone together was greatly appreciated. She was rewarded with several awards. She was commended for her ability to unite teams, supporting junior colleagues, and her dedication to patient care,” he added.

“She was a much-loved and highly respected doctor. She was a true friend and colleague who had a positive impact on patient care offering them the very best care and treatment. My wife and I had a very close relationship with Vaish and we spoke daily.”

Her parents said that even in Vaish’s last moments she “refused to be lifted up the stairs saying she’s too heavy.” Her father said: “Showing her concern to paramedics, she walked up the stairs even though she was in agonising pain. This is what she was like - a very caring person always thinking of others.”

He said outside of medicine, Vaish was a creative person often spending time doing small paintings and drawings. She won a regional award in Wales for a GCSE art project, which was a self portrait. She loved gadgets and tech, fashion and make-up trends.

Her father added: “Vaish was looking forward to completing her medical speciality training and taking a career break to go visit her grandmother in India and travel around the world with her friends before ultimately settling down in a consultant post in the West Midlands where she had aspirations of having a family and a home. It is with sadness that it is a dream that remains unfulfilled.”