Abandoned baby found at Darent Valley Hospital, in Dartford, was 'a few hours old'
15:21, 28 May 2019
updated: 10:34, 29 May 2019
A baby that was abandoned outside a hospital was only a few hours old.
Police were called to Darent Valley Hospital, in Dartford, at around 3am on Friday after the boy was found outside the entrance of the hospital.
They are hoping to track a dark, four-door, saloon-style vehicle in connection with the incident.
WATCH: Police are calling for public help
Officers are now looking for the mother of the child, who is of black or mixed-race descent, so they can check she is safe.
Detective chief inspector, Matt Talboys, said: "We are really desperately trying to find out where the mother of the child is.
"The child was left unaccompanied at Darent Valley Hospital at around 3am on Friday morning and we don't know wo the mother is and we're really concerned about her and her welfare.
"We've got a number of inquiries going on at the moment mainly centred around dashcams, ANPR, so if anyone who has anything like that can help with around Darent Valley at around 3am, we'd really appreciate them sending those things in or getting in contact with us."
Mr Talboys explained that the infant is doing well and is healthy.
He added: "He's very well, healthy, it was an extremely new born baby, within a few hours of being born, but the baby is healthy, the baby is doing absolutely fine.
"I want to put that out particularly, that the baby is absolutely fine and the mother is not in trouble in any way, we just need to contact her to make sure she's okay.
"Anyone with any information should let us know so we can make sure she's okay.
"It's very rare this sort of thing happens, it's a unique case for us which is why we're doing our very best to identify the mum and hope she's okay."
Police are hoping dashcam footage or ANPR cameras will lead them to identify the exact model of the car and its owner.
They also want anyone in the car park at the time to come forward.
Chief Inspector Talboys said: "At the time of when she was dropped off there was a couple of people in the car park that may have seen the baby boy being dropped off, so if they have any more information about it, they need to contact us as well.
'I would like to stress, there is nothing to fear in coming forward. The baby is safe, healthy and being taken care of but we need to make sure the mother is also getting any help she may need.
'Given the close proximity to London and Essex, we are looking into the possibility the mother may be from these areas and we would therefore like to hear from anyone living in these areas, as well as Kent, who thinks they may have information that can help.
"What may appear to be insignificant to them could be hugely significant for our enquiries."
Anyone with information should call 999 quoting 24-0117.
