Police converge on hospital as patient goes missing

POLICE were called to Sunshine Coast University Hospital after a patient absconded at a critical stage of his treatment.

A hospital representative said doctors became alarmed for the male patient's health when he left during a key phase of treatment placing himself in a vulnerable position.

Hospital security and four police vehicles responded swiftly after the man went missing at 2pm on Saturday.

The representative said he was found in a construction site after an extensive search and returned to care.

The level of police response was triggered by concern the man had been creating a disturbance with a Police Media spokesman saying they were called to hospitals on an irregular basis to restrain patients due to a range of issues.

The man is now believed to be undergoing treatment with no report of injury to anyone engaged in his care.