Abandoned baby named as pleas intensify for his mum to come forward
A mother who abandoned her newborn baby outside a Perth medical centre needs treatment and should come forward without fear of being charged, police say.
The boy, named Rahil, was found in a box at the Garden City Medical Centre in Booragoon on yesterday morning and taken to Perth Children's Hospital.
He had been wrapped in a blanket and the mother also left behind a handwritten note asking he be cared for.
The baby's mother hasn't been found. 9news
Rahil, whose name can mean "traveller" or "innocent", appears to be in good health.
But the mother did not give birth at a hospital and today West Australian Premier Mark McGowan urged her to come forward to get treatment.
"All people want to do is support her," he told reporters.
"Get some medical attention. The government wants to help you."
Rahil is in good health. 9news
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said she could contact police anonymously or the Department of Communities.
"We do want to locate the mother, not for police reasons in terms of pursuing criminal conduct or anything, it's about her health and welfare," he said.
"Clearly she wanted to leave the child in a place to be cared for. We want to also care for mum."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he hoped the mother would be identified and the issue would be handled sensitively.
"My first thoughts are, frankly, with the young child, the infant, and that they are placed in the best of care," he said.
Rahil is in good health. 9news
"The WA government has the processes and systems in place to provide that care."
Department of Communities assistant director general of service delivery Jackie Tang said Rahil had been brought into the provisional care of the Department and further decisions regarding his future would be made "in due course".
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