An Garda Síochána and HSE Launch Herbert Protocol to Support People Living with Dementia

An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive (HSE) have officially announced their support of the Herbert Protocol, unveiled today at the International Dementia Conference in the Athlone Springs Hotel.

The Herbert Protocol is a pre-completed form that holds key information about a person living with dementia, including a physical description, a recent photograph, details of any medication they take, important contact numbers, and places from their past where they find comfort and familiarity.

The protocol was first established in the UK, where it has been used many times to help police and other agencies quickly and safely locate missing people who have dementia. It is named after George Herbert, a war veteran from the Normandy landings who lived with dementia. After he went missing a few times, his local police realised they needed a better way to look after vulnerable people, which led to the creation of the protocol.

In Ireland, the initiative will support the over 64,000 people living with dementia across the country. If a loved one is reported missing, the family hands the pre-completed form directly to An Garda Síochána. This eliminates the need for Gardaí to conduct lengthy interviews during the critical first hour of a search, allowing Gardaí to deploy resources immediately to the locations where the person is most likely to be found.

Assistant Commissioner Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Catharina Gunne, said:

"An Garda Síochána works continuously with our partners to preserve and improve the safety of all members of our society. Our work with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, AGE Friendly Ireland, the HSE and other stakeholders has led to the adoption and support of the Herbert Protocol in An Garda Síochána, to ensure we meet the needs of the community and keep people safe.

The Herbert Protocol has proven to be a very useful mechanism for sharing vital information in the early stages of an incident where a vulnerable person goes missing, and it is the hope of An Garda Síochána that the use of the Herbert Protocol in Ireland will provide some relief to families and carers at a very stressful and worrying time, resulting in swift, successful conclusions to incidents of missing loved ones."

Paul Maloney, National Dementia Services, HSE, said:

"Dementia affects the individual, and the entire family unit. Worrying about a loved one wandering is incredibly stressful for families. To help, we are using the Herbert Protocol, and it is fantastic to see An Garda Síochána embracing the use of this tool. It is a simple, proactive tool that helps families prepare key information. It ensures that if a loved one has gone missing, Gardaí have everything they need to start searching immediately, helping to keep vulnerable people safe while supporting their independence."

Kim Tully, CEO of Engaging Dementia, said:

"Engaging Dementia is delighted to see the Herbert Protocol receive support from the Gardaí and the HSE. This protocol, and dignity to the person suffering from dementia, ensures that if a person becomes disoriented, their history and habits are already known to those who are searching for them. It is about preparedness, not panic."

The Herbert Protocol form is available to download at garda.ie and herbertprotocol.com. Families are encouraged to keep a printed copy in a prominent place at home and to share a digital copy with trusted family members.