Can it ever be right for a mother to leave her unwanted child inside a hospital baby hatch
12:28 AM on 16th October 2011
Different views: Alley believes hospitals should provide hatches for abandoned babies but her half-brother, Iain, opposes the idea
Natural bond: Most people cannot understand how a mother could abandon her baby (File photo)
‘The most important thing is not to judge, but to support women in difficult situations and put a strategy in place to care for abandoned infants who may otherwise die.’
Shared backgrounds: As babies, Iain (left) and Alley shared a clear likeness – a clue that helped them get in touch with each other
In the past couple of years, newborn babies have been found stuffed into carrier bags, under bushes and in rubbish bins. Just a fortnight ago, the body of an abandoned baby girl was found in a river in Kirkham, Lancashire.
Safe haven: Alley acknowledges that baby hatches might encourage more mothers to abandon their babies, but, she argues, at least their chances of survival will increase (File photo)