Patient located after leaving mental health facility without alerting staff in Hawke's Bay

A patient has been returned to a mental health facility "within a matter of hours" after leaving without alerting staff.

In response to questions from RNZ, Health New Zealand Hawke's Bay group director of operations David Warrington confirmed a patient assessed as a "low risk to the public" left a mental health facility on Thursday afternoon without alerting staff.

"Staff called police and he was located at a private residence and returned to the facility within a matter of hours without incident."

** Do you know more? Email** sam.sherwood@rnz.co.nz

A police spokesperson told RNZ police were notified on Thursday of a 67-year-old man who was required to be located after leaving a mental health facility in Hawke's Bay.

"Police located the man at a private residence and returned him to the care of the facility.

"The man was assessed as not a risk to the public."