An elderly female Alzheimer's patient who went missing from a Dublin hospital yesterday has been found safe and well, gardaí said.
Joan Campbell (78) went missing from St James’s Hospital in the south of the city at about 4.30pm.
The hospital said security staff and gardaí were informed when it was noticed that Ms Campbell, described as “vulnerable”, was missing.
A full search of the campus was carried out and CCTV footage was examined in a bid to locate Ms Campbell.
She was found by gardaí in the city centre at about noon today.
St James’s said it has initiated an internal inquiry and would be co-operating fully with any external inquiries. The HSE has also been notified.
“In light of this incident the hospital is reviewing all of its patient care security arrangements, including reminding staff of the need for vigilance at all times, a review of the access arrangements on all ward areas, the installation of more CCTV cameras and a review of the existing cameras throughout the campus,” a spokesman said .
Ms Campbell had been an in-patient in a secure ward at St James’s since February.