Justice ministry officials are to talk with the public health institute RIVM in another effort to identify the mother whose baby was found dumped in an underground garbage container last October.

The baby was heard crying by a passerby in the early hours of the morning. She alerted the emergency services who found the baby unharmed.

The child had two unusual physical traits which police had hoped would help identify her and was also thought to have had the heel prick test – part of the routine neo-natal screening process for newborns.

However, efforts to find the nurse who may have given the test have failed.

The RIVM keeps all information about the heel prick which is covered by medical confidentiality legislation. The public prosecution department said in a statement if the RIVM will not hand over the relevant information, the issue could be taken to court.

The child is making good progress with a foster family, officials said.