Baby left 'wet and cold' died in understaffed hospital

A general view of University Hospital of Wales (Image: Rob Browne)

An inquest has heard how a four-week-old baby who died at a major Welsh hospital had been left malnourished, dehydrated and lying on damp, cold bedding for hours due to severe understaffing on the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Lakshith Guptha Nalla died at the University Hospital of Wales in the early hours of May 11, 2024. At Pontypridd Coroners’ Court, his parents described how their lives had been “changed forever”.

Coroner Rachel Knight set out numerous failings by staff in the days before the newborn’s death. She said the NICU had been hit by “persistent and gross understaffing”, which meant baby Nalla went unfed for four hours, staff missed signs of infection, and no one noticed he was left on cold, wet sh