Baby Lakshith Nalla Hospital Death

Lakshith Guptha Nalla, a four-week-old baby, died at the University Hospital of Wales due to severe medical oversights and persistent understaffing in its neonatal intensive care unit. An inquest led by Coroner Rachel Knight revealed that Lakshith Guptha Nalla was left unfed for four hours, on cold, wet bedding, and showed unnoticed signs of infection. Nurse Pasqualina Mollo disconnected his feeding tube for cuddles, but due to chaotic inventory, new tubes were unavailable for an hour and a half. When a new tube was fitted, Pasqualina Mollo did so improperly and failed to report the missed feeding or conduct necessary blood tests. The unit was found to be caring for twice the recommended number of patients. Lakshith Guptha Nalla was diagnosed with hypoglycemia, metabolic and respiratory acidosis, sepsis, peritonitis, and necrotising enterocolitis. While the inquest concluded that there was insufficient evidence that feeding could have saved Lakshith Guptha Nalla, his care was deemed 'wholly inadequate'. The University Hospital of Wales has since made changes to staffing and stocking. Lakshith Guptha Nalla's parents, who had moved to United Kingdom — Cardiff from India, have since returned to India.