A national scheme that encourages staff and carers to compile useful information in the event of a vulnerable person going missing is being supported in Huntingdonshire and Peterborough.
The initiative, called The Herbert Protocol, is being introduced in all inpatient, outpatient and emergency departments across North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.
It is being spearheaded at Peterborough City, Stamford and Rutland and Huntingdon's Hinchingbrooke hospitals by the Trust's Dementia Team.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary, along with partners including the Dementia Action Alliance and the Discharge Dementia Advisors (Alzheimer's Society), have set up the scheme within the region.
The Herbert Protocol encourages carers to keep a record of key information that could be useful to the police in the event of a vulnerable person going missing.
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Dementia nurse specialist for the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Alison Gray, said: "The Herbert Protocol is an early intervention and risk reduction scheme to help find vulnerable people who are at risk of going missing.
"Through our staff and this initiative, carers are being asked to fill in a form and keep it updated so that it is ready to hand or send to the police should it be needed.
"This will help to save vital time at the start of efforts to local the missing person."
Helpful information includes phone numbers, the place the person often goes, the medication they are taking and a photo of the individual.
Thanks to all of our amazing staff who are working on the bank holiday weekend! 💙💙#TeamNorthWestAnglia pic.twitter.com/c7FkaPdPq5
— NWAngliaFT (@NWAngliaFT) August 28, 2023
The police only need the form at the point the person is reported missing. There is no need to hand it to police before then, and the form will be returned once the person is found.
The protocol is named after a war veteran of the Normandy landings named George Herbert, who lived with dementia in a care home.
George sadly died whilst 'missing' in attempts to find his childhood home.
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