Dean Hesketh police appeal: Urgent search launched for UK missing hospital patient with potential contagious condition

PRESTON, UK: What is happening now in the United Kingdom and the Dean Hesketh police appeal? The updates of the missing hospital patient with contagious diseases are now spreading on social media and the internet like a cooking fire. Authorities in Lancashire have launched an urgent search for a 51-year-old man who left Royal Preston Hospital on Tuesday morning while potentially carrying a contagious medical condition. Lancashire Constabulary released CCTV footage on Thursday showing the individual exiting the hospital premises, sparking widespread public health concerns across the region.

Police have identified the missing man as Dean Hesketh, who also uses the aliases Tim Gledhill, Dean Gledhill, and Anthony Gledhill. Officers are appealing directly to the public for immediate assistance, urging anyone who spots him to dial 999 immediately rather than approaching him directly.

Missing UK Contagious Hospital man key info

• Name: Dean Hesketh (also known as Tim, Dean, or Anthony Gledhill)
• Age: 51
• Last Seen: Tuesday, 28th July at 11:16 AM
• Location: Royal Preston Hospital, Sharoe Green Lane, Preston
• Physical Description: Slim build, 5ft 4in tall, short black hair, blue eyes
• Clothing: Khaki green and black jacket, Lyle & Scott jumper, black trainers, and a blue face mask
• Emergency Contact: Dial 999 for immediate sightings, or call 101 (quoting log 1051 of 28th July) with secondary information or footage.

CCTV AND FOOTAGE REPORTS NEARBY

CCTV footage captured by hospital security shows Mr Hesketh walking away from Royal Preston Hospital at precisely 11:16 AM on Tuesday, 28th July.

In the video footage released by Preston Police, Mr Hesketh appears in a distinctive khaki green and black jacket paired with a Lyle & Scott branded jumper, dark trousers, and black trainers. Notably, he was wearing a standard blue surgical face mask at the time of his departure.

Detectives reviewing local surveillance systems believe he may still be in the greater Preston area, though he could have used public transport or pedestrian routes to travel toward neighbouring districts in Lancashire or Greater Manchester.

Official Police Statement:

“Enquiries to locate Mr. Hesketh are ongoing, and officers are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare and the public’s well-being. If you see him, please do not approach him directly due to the potential health risks involved. Call 999 immediately so trained medical and emergency response personnel can assist.”

Public Health Alert: Stay healthy

While Lancashire Constabulary has not disclosed the specific nature of Mr Hesketh’s medical condition due to patient confidentiality laws, medical officials have confirmed that his condition requires urgent treatment and poses a contagion risk if left unmonitored.

Healthcare experts emphasise that individuals leaving medical facilities against advice or before completing specialised treatment plans risk severe health complications. Furthermore, contagious conditions can present subtle early symptoms that worsen rapidly without prescription therapeutics, hospital isolation, or continuous medical monitoring.

How to protect steps to take?

If you come into contact with someone matching Mr Hesketh’s description, public health authorities recommend taking the following precautions:

1. Maintain Distance: Keep a distance of at least 2 meters (6 feet) to minimise air transmission risks.
2. Avoid Physical Contact: Do not touch items the individual may have handled recently without wearing protective gloves or using hand sanitiser immediately afterwards.
3. Do Not Attempt Retention: Allow emergency response teams and trained law enforcement personnel to handle the interaction.
4. Note Details: Take immediate mental notes of his exact direction of travel, physical appearance, and any vehicles involved.

Extensive Search and Rescue Operations Underway

Lancashire Constabulary has deployed additional patrol units, search teams, and community officers across Preston and surrounding transit hubs. Patrols are concentrating on high-density areas, including:

• Preston Railway Station and major bus interchanges
• Local parks and public spaces, including Avenham Park and Haslam Park
• Commercial centres and high streets across Lancashire
• Shelter and support facility networks throughout the North West region

Investigating officers are actively reviewing private dashcam footage, residential doorbell cameras, and municipal CCTV networks along Sharoe Green Lane, Watling Street Road, and Garstang Road.

Legal and Medical Context: Hospital Discharge Protocols

When patients leave hospital care unexpectedly—often referred to in emergency medical services as leaving Against Medical Advice (AMA) or Absconding—hospitals trigger immediate safety protocols:

Emergency Response Steps Taken by Hospitals

1. Clinical Risk Assessment: Medical staff evaluate whether the patient poses an immediate physical threat to themselves or the broader public.
2. Public Health Notification: When contagious pathogens or severe infectious diseases are suspected, doctors liaise with public health authorities and local police departments under statutory duty provisions.
3. Police Intervention: Officers file a High-Risk Missing Person Report, mobilising search teams and public appeal networks.

Hospitals balance personal liberty rights under the Mental Health Act and Public Health (Control of Disease) Act against public safety obligations. In cases involving high-risk contagious health conditions, public safety overrides standard privacy boundaries to ensure rapid community recovery.

Broader Community Context and Related Regional Alerts

The appeal comes during a period of heightened activity for emergency services across the region. Local law enforcement agencies frequently process high volumes of missing person investigations every month, relying heavily on community tips and real-time public cooperation to secure positive outcomes.

Authorities stress that early public reporting remains the single most effective tool in locating missing individuals safely.

How You Can Help Preston Police

Lancashire Police urge residents, business owners, and commuters across Preston and the surrounding areas to remain vigilant.

What to Do

• Immediate Sightings: Dial 999 right away and inform the call handler that you have spotted a high-risk missing person.
• Non-Emergency Information: If you possess dashcam footage, private security video, or background information regarding his potential whereabouts, contact Lancashire Police on 101.
• Log Reference: Always quote Log 1051 of 28th July to ensure your information reaches the primary investigation team immediately.
• Anonymous Reporting: You can also submit confidential tips through the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or using their online secure reporting form.

Helpful Contact number /phone information

Service / Channel	Phone Number	Purpose	Quote Reference
Emergency Police	999	Immediate live sightings	Log 1051 of 28th July
Non-Emergency Police	101	Historical information / Footage	Log 1051 of 28th July
Crimestoppers UK	0800 555 111	100% Anonymous tips	N/A
NHS 111 Services	111	Non-emergency medical advice	N/A