'Missing' OAP found in hospital

Published on Monday 2 March 2009 21:21

RAF search helicopters using heat-seeking equipment were scrambled at the weekend to trace a "missing" pensioner later found safe in a hospital bed.

Police said Helen McDonald, 85, had been reported missing from her home in Alyth, Perthshire at about 7pm on Saturday.

After police checks to local hospitals found no trace of her, a huge search and rescue operation costing thousands of pounds was launched.

Police said they were concerned about the pensioner, who was in poor health and might have been in a confused state.

But unknown to them she had been admitted to Perth Royal Infirmary by her GP just before noon on Saturday.

Yesterday Tayside Police said they contacted the hospital twice to check Miss McDonald's whereabouts and would be meeting with NHS Tayside this week to find what went wrong.

Superintendant Craig Suttie of Tayside Police, said: "Any missing person inquiry is critical and we get resources out there early to deal with vulnerable people.

"The standard procedure of checking with all hospitals for a missing person was carried out, including Perth Royal Infirmary. All the calls came back negative.

"On the Sunday morning we received information from a neighbour that Miss McDonald had been seen getting into ambulance transport at around 10am on Saturday."

An NHS Tayside spokeswoman last night said: "The lady was admitted by her GP on Saturday morning and we will be contacting Tayside Police to discuss this matter."