Baby abandoned on bench to go into foster care

THE baby girl found abandoned on a park bench could be placed with a foster family as early as today, it has emerged.

The newborn – named Charlotte after the police officer who took her to hospital – is likely to spend around a year in foster care before being legally adopted if her mother does not come forward.

The move comes as police said they were investigating “several” lines of inquiry in the search for the missing mum, including a possible sighting in Colinton.

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A witness contacted the police after seeing a woman “crying uncontrollably” near to the scene just half an hour after baby Charlotte was found.

Charlotte is thought to have been less than a day old when she was discovered in Hailesland Park, Wester Hailes, at around 1pm on Thursday.

Council chiefs said they expected the baby to be placed in a foster home “today or tomorrow”. A number of foster carers were yesterday being assessed.

Pc Charlotte Work – who accompanied the tot to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary – visited the hospital yesterday and described Charlotte as “absolutely gorgeous”.

The officer said she was “honoured” that Charlotte was named after her, and gave the baby a new Jemima Puddle-Duck doll, her own favourite toy from childhood.

Pc Work, 26, said: “When I was a little girl I had a Jemima Puddle-Duck doll. It was my favourite toy so I wanted to give Charlotte something special.

“I hope she has a healthy, happy life whether she’s reunited with her birth mother or brought up by adoptive parents.

“I’m honoured she’s been named Charlotte after me. She’s absolutely gorgeous.

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“It’s very important to find her mum. I would urge her to get in touch with her doctor, attend at hospital or contact police so we can make sure she is safe and well.”

Pc Work said that the baby had been “asleep and quite content” as the pair rode by ambulance together to the hospital 
following Charlotte’s discovery.

She added that she had been taken aback by news of the baby’s discovery on Thursday. She said: “I was in shock when I heard. It’s not something that happens often or something I’ve dealt with before.”

NHS Lothian’s chief midwife, Maria Wilson, said Charlotte now weighed five pounds 11 ounces. She said: “She’s doing very well, she’s had a comfortable weekend and she’s been well cared for by the staff. I think staff would love to see Charlotte reunited with her mum.”

A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed they had received a call concerning the possible sighting in Colinton and are now investigating the link, along with several other lines of inquiry.

Kind-hearted community chips in

THE plight of the baby orphan has touched hearts across the region.

We told at the weekend how generous residents at the Wester Hailes development where she was found have launched a whip-round to buy her Babygros and a teddy bear.

One said: “We’re determined to raise as much as we can for the wee mite.”

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The Evening News phone has been ringing off the hook with kind-hearted residents offering to donate what they can to the baby.

While Chris McLenaghan, 71, a volunteer at the Deaf Action Charity shop in South Queensferry, said: “We’ve got a cot and a baby bath, and soft toys, and she’s welcome to them. She’s had a bad start but hopefully things will get better for her now, whether that’s back with her biological mum or with an adoptive family.”

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