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A four-week-old baby has died after being left malnourished and dehydrated on an understaffed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a coroner has heard.

Lakshith Guptha Nalla died at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff in the early hours of 11 May 2024. Pontypridd Coroners’ Court was told he had been left without feed for four hours, lying on cold, wet bedding, due to staffing shortages and equipment failures.

Coroner Rachel Knight said the “persistent and gross understaffing” of the ward contributed to the tragedy. Baby Nalla, born at 30 weeks and four days with a congenital condition, was described as “vulnerable” and “entirely dependent on the NICU”.

On 9 May, nurse Pasqualina Mollo removed Nalla’s feeding tube to allow him cuddles with his parents. However, due to

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