Angel's Cradle
The Angel’s Cradle at St. Paul’s Hospital provides a safe place for parents or caregivers to leave their newborn baby if they feel that they cannot properly care for it.
Overview
Sometimes a newborn is unsafely abandoned because the parents or caregivers feel that they have no other option. The Angel’s Cradle offers an alternative.
The Angel’s Cradle is located at St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver. It's accessible from outside the hospital at the Emergency Department entrance. An angel sign, visible from the street, indicates the cradle’s location.
Thirty seconds after the newborn has been placed in the cradle, a sensor will alert emergency staff. In the short term, the baby will be lovingly cared for by our hospital social work team. A social worker will contact the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development, which will assume responsibility for the baby.
At Providence Health Care, we are committed to the health and safety of the newborn and parents. We encourage parents to make the right choice for themselves and their babies, whether it is parenting, adoption or leaving the baby in Angel’s Cradle.
If you are a new parent in crisis, you can find support. Please call the VCH Region Distress Line: 604-872-3311