An elderly patient who let himself out of a ward at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford was found safe and well.
The man, who is in his 80s, managed to walk out of the ward and wandered the grounds of the hospital for about three hours this morning.
Police were called after staff realised the man was missing and raised the alarm.
Trust bosses last night said staff followed the correct procedures as soon as they noticed the man was missing.
Shortly before 8.45am, the man was found just outside the hospital site, dressed in his pyjamas.
Chief Supt Brendan O'Dowda, Thames Valley Police Oxfordshire commander, said: "We responded to a call from the hospital to assist them in searching for an elderly patient who was not believed to be in the best of health.
"He was found outside the unit, but he was safe and well."
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