Baby left without food at hospital, inquest hears

A NURSE working on an understaffed neonatal intensive care unit failed to properly fit the feeding tube of a four-week-old baby as she was “in a rush’; an inquest has heard.

- HOLLY MORGAN

Lakshith Guptha Nalla died at the University Hospital of Wales in the early hours of May 11 last year, and Pontypridd Coroners’ Court heard that since that day his parents’ lives have “changed forever’.

Yesterday, on the fourth day of an inquest into his death, the inquest heard evidence from consultant paediatrician Dr Kanaga Raj Sinnathuray.

He explained how the four hours that went by for baby Nalla without any food would have significantly affected his ability to fight an infection.

Baby Nalla developed sepsis and died.

There were a number of factors discussed in the inquest that could have contributed to baby Nalla’s death.

The baby’s parents say it was the negligence of staff that led to the death of their baby boy.

The issues discussed in the inquest are as follows:

Short-staffed NICU

On May 9, 2024, registered nurse Pasqualina Mollo was the nurse responsible for baby Nalla. On Monday, the court heard how the ward was understaffed and so Ms Mollo was called to help deliver another baby. Another nurse, who had her own babies to look after, took over baby Nalla's care.