Baby Hatch

Location of the Baby Hatch

• in the GUP pavilion building, in the maternity admissions area

Equipment of the Baby Hatch

• pull-out shutter allowing the incubator to be opened from outside
• incubator heated 24 hours a day
• alarm signaling device

Transporting a newborn from the baby hatch to the neonatology unit

• once the alarm sounds, the maternity admissions nurse calls the neonatal nurse
• the neonatal nurse removes the newborn from the baby hatch within five minutes of the alarm sounding
• the neonatal nurse carries the newborn to the neonatal unit
• the neonatal nurse calls the physician on duty, who performs a basic physical examination of the newborn along with examinations required under professional guidelines
• medical records are kept for the newborn
• in the newborn’s medical records, the child is listed as “unknown” until a birth certificate is issued
• the attending physician reports the finding of the abandoned newborn as soon as possible, or at the latest on the next business day, to the relevant Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family in the location where the child was found
• the report of the newborn’s discovery is made in writing, by electronic means, or by fax
• the report must include: the date and time of discovery, the estimated date of birth (determined by a physician), sex, weight, length, health condition, a description of the clothing and any items found with the child in the public incubator, and the name of the healthcare facility
• the healthcare facility may petition the court for the newborn to be placed in foster care immediately upon admission