A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a newborn baby was found abandoned in hospital toilets.
The baby boy was found by security staff shortly after midnight on Wednesday morning at Wigan’s Royal Albert Infirmary and taken into A&E, where he was resuscitated, police said.
Officers said the boy was now doing well and praised the hospital staff who saved his life. DI Martin Reddington, from GMP’s Wigan borough, said: “This is an awful situation. I am just so happy I am able to say that the baby boy is doing well.
“We have made an arrest and we will be thoroughly investigating how this happened. We are appealing for anyone who may have been in the A&E department between 7pm and midnight, and perhaps saw a man and a woman in and around the toilets or saw anything unusual, to get in touch with police as soon as possible.”
Andrew Foster, chief executive of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS foundation trust, said: “I would like to thank all staff who were involved for their professionalism and calmness during the incident, particularly the diligent member of staff who discovered the baby and raised the alarm.
“I’m very proud of the way our staff worked; their quick response without doubt saved the baby’s life.”
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 7124, 101 or via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
