- Over 40,000 people with dementia are reported missing for the first time in the UK every year.
- Health charity MedicAlert launches £10,000 emergency campaign during World Alzheimer’s Month to safeguard its free police-integrated Herbert Protocol search service.
- Digital database eliminates the “kitchen table delay,” instantly delivering crucial profiles to police officers on the street within minutes.
September 2026 – During World Alzheimer’s Month, national health charity MedicAlert Foundation UK has launched a vital 14-day appeal to safeguard its free digital Herbert Protocol emergency database, an essential public safety infrastructure that transforms frantic missing-person searches into targeted police rescues within minutes.
In the UK, over 944,000 people are living with dementia (source: Alzheimer’s Society), and an estimated 70% will wander or go missing at least once during the progression of the condition (source: Dementia UK). Furthermore, national police statistics show that over 40,000 people living with dementia are reported missing for the first time in the UK every year.
When a vulnerable individual strays from home, police search teams typically spend the critical first hour sitting at a kitchen table, attempting to gather physical descriptions, medical histories, past addresses, and routines from traumatised families in deep shock.
MedicAlert’s free Herbert Protocol database bypasses this panic entirely. Acting as a 24/7 digital “memory keeper” in a crisis, the system securely stores detailed physical descriptions, photographs, medical needs, past locations of interest, and de-escalation strategies. With a single go-ahead from a panicked family member, MedicAlert instantly transmits the complete, structured profile directly into the hands of UK police search teams on the ground.
MedicAlert currently looks after more than 6,000 of these free lifelines. To keep the 24/7 secure infrastructure running and integrated with police forces nationwide, the charity is running a 14-day appeal during the final two weeks of World Alzheimer’s Month to raise £10,000.
Quote from Rob Burley, Chief Executive Officer at MedicAlert Foundation UK:
“When a loved one with dementia goes missing, every single second feels like an eternity. Dementia distorts reality, often driving people to search for a childhood home or a long-gone workplace, leaving them defenceless against cold weather and dangerous traffic.
“Historically, officers have had to spend that precious first hour gathering basic facts from a family in deep shock. Our Herbert Protocol database takes the panic out of those missing minutes. In one quick step, we give police officers on the street a clear strategy, telling them who they are looking for, where to search, and how to safely calm the person when found.
“We believe that protecting a vulnerable loved one is a fundamental human right, not a luxury. That is why we provide this service 100% free of charge. But maintaining a secure, 24/7 digital network across the UK requires funding. During World Alzheimer’s Month, a donation of just £20 secures a lifeline for another vulnerable family ahead of winter.”
Campaign Summary & How to Support
- The Target: £10,000 to maintain, secure, and update MedicAlert’s national Herbert Protocol infrastructure.
- Duration: 14-day public appeal running during the second half of September for World Alzheimer’s Month.
- How to Donate / Register: Members of the public can donate to the appeal or register a loved one living with memory loss for the free Herbert Protocol service at [www.medicalert.org.uk/herbert-protocol].
