ALMOST ten thousand NHS workers in Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been injured at work in recent years.

 

But Scottish health board figures show the number is coming down.

Injuries include anything from physical violence, assault, staff knocked unconscious or punctures from dirty needles to slips, trips and falls, fractured bones and infections.

There were more than 35,000 reported injuries to NHS employees while at work in Scotland between 2011 and 2013, figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde staff had suffered 9,583 of the injuries.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Jim Hume said: "Whilst our health boards operate vigorous accident reporting and prevention systems we know that accidents can occur because of potentially unsafe behaviour or conditions.

"It is worrying that violence against staff also remains a high cause of injury. Injuries such as slips, trips and falls are always preventable.

"SNP mismanagement of our NHS has led to stressful conditions, under-staffing and lack of capacity in our hospitals only adding to pressures felt by health boards.

"There is never an excuse to cut corners and health boards must do everything within their power to ensure staff are appropriately trained to prevent accidents.

"But SNP ministers must make life more manageable for health boards by alleviating the pressure they have heaped upon them in recent years.

"Injuries come at great cost to the running of our hospitals, but more importantly they can cost lives. Ministers must work with health boards to reduce these injuries."