AN INQUIRY has been launched after a man escaped from police custody while being treated at the biggest hospital in the Highlands.
A search was launched for Gavin Shand after he evaded officers in the accident and emergency unit at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, at the weekend.
It is understood this is the first time a prisoner has escaped from custody at NHS Highland’s flagship hospital.
Police issued an appeal for the public’s help in locating Shand, 35, along with his description, after the incident about 10pm on Friday.
However, they gave assurances that he was not regarded as a danger to the public.
Shand was traced in the Inverness area on Saturday evening and is back in police custody.
A police statement said he was found “following a co-ordinated operation using police resources from various divisions”.
NHS Highland and the police have both launched inquiries into how he was able to escape.
An NHS Highland spokesman said: “We are aware of the situation and have launched an internal investigation to find out what happened.
“We are working closely with the police.”
He added that Shand was no longer a patient at the hospital.
Chief Inspector Angus MacInnes said: “I would like to thank those members of the public who assisted us in tracing Gavin Shand.
“He is now in our custody and receiving the necessary medical attention and care. A full inquiry into the circumstances which resulted in his escape has started and lessons will be learned.”
A police spokeswoman refused yesterday to provide any information about why Shand was in custody or say if he had been charged.
She was also unwilling to comment on why he had been at Raigmore and whether he was injured in any way.
The spokeswoman said she could not provide details of the general area where Mr Shand lived because of “data protection”.
The police also refused to say what procedures had been involved in the search for the missing prisoner or where he was found in the Inverness area.
And they would not reveal how many police officers had been guarding him at the hospital.