THOUSANDS of injuries have been reported at Glasgow mental health units in just one year.

According to research, nearly nine incidents are reported in Glasgow facilities every day, which have resulted in injuries to both staff and patients.

In 2017/2018, there were 3,232 recorded incidents including 2,095 which resulted in patients being injured.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Scotland’s largest health board, were found to have experienced the most incidents last year, followed by NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian.

Over the last three years, 9,799 injuries at Glasgow mental health facilities have been recorded with patient attacks on staff being the largest problem.

Workers were attacked a staggering 2,882 times while on duty between 2015 and 2018.

According to a Freedom of Information request, obtained by the Evening Times, incidents ranged from assaults, accidents such as falls and trips, substance abuse and issues with absconding and patient transport.

Sudden illness, burns, hazardous liquids and infection control also contributed to the figures.

Across Scotland, a person sustains an injury at a mental health unit every hour, amounting to 8,519 in total.

The findings have led to a call for improved mental health services by politicians.

Scottish Conservative mental health spokeswoman Annie Wells said: “Everyone accepts that mental health wards can be extremely challenging both for patients and staff and, as such, incidents involving injury are bound to occur.

“But at the same time, more clearly needs to be done to reduce the thousands which occur each year.

“All political parties agree that mental health deserves parity of esteem with physical health.”

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “The reporting of incidents is an important part of our risk management strategy and is designed as a way to help further improve the quality of patient care while minimising risk.

“We proactively encourage the reporting of every incident no matter how minor.

“These figures from mental health wards cover a number of categories ranging from noisy behaviour that disturbs others to bee stings or patients refusing clinical intervention.

“Reporting of such a wide range of categories helps us to identify any potential weaknesses in the system and improve ways of working or retrain staff where necessary.”