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A national scheme that encourages staff and carers to compile useful information in the event of a vulnerable person going missing is being supported locally.

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 locally.

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.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary, along with partners including the Dementia Action Alliance, have set up the scheme locally.

Trust dementia nurse specialist, Alison Gray (pictured) 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, place the person often goes, medication they are taking and a photo of the individual.

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.