Background
Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service (LFRS) have been providing Guardian Angel devices to people living with Dementia since March 2017.
The devices are designed to help people that have conditions such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or any other mental health condition, return home quickly.
In 2019, Lancashire Constabulary approached LFRS and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to produce a similar device called 999ReUnite.
The devices were trialed in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, and following a full evaluation, a new partnership was formed, which included Primary Care Health Teams and the scheme was rolled out across Lancashire.
The benefits of the scheme include:
- Reducing the harm to vulnerable individuals and to others in the community
- Reducing the upset and stress to individuals and their families by returning them home quicker and safer
- Reducing the financial impact on all partners, by reducing calls/ incidents and time staff spend on dealing with calls for service locating, returning, and dealing with individuals
New Collaboration between the Emergency Services and NHS
The 999ReUnite scheme has created a perfect opportunity for LFRS to work collaboratively with NWAS, Police and NHS, increase awareness of our Home Fire Safety Checks and set up referral pathways for this service.
To date, approximately 300 devices have been issued to vulnerable people across Lancashire.