DORSET Healthcare Foundation Trust - which runs the county's mental health service - has experienced more than one fire a month on average at its various facilities new figures have revealed.

In the 12 months to March 2018 there were 19 fires at Dorset Healthcare premises, with two people suffering injuries.

New NHS research has also revealed that firefighters have attended false alarms more than once a week on average last year at Dorset Healthcare.

NHS Digital says the fire and rescue service were called out to 74 false alarms in 12 months.

Given that Dorset fire service charges each non-emergency call-out to the public at £271.86 plus VAT - although it does not charge for the call-outs to Dorset Healthcare - the potential cost of the false alarms is more than £20,000.

Head of Health and Safety and Fire Safety at Dorset HealthCare, Steve Harper, said: “We care for a number of high risk patients with a variety of complex health needs, including mental health issues, at our sites. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of our staff, some of these patients deliberately set off the alarms, damage them or use electronic cigarettes indoors, even though this is strictly prohibited."

He said all the Trust's buildings have automatic fire detection systems, connected to a 24/7 monitoring company, which alerts the Fire and Rescue Service immediately when an alarm sounds.

"These are treated as actual until determined through investigation that they are false," he said.

"We work closely with the monitoring company and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, which undertakes regular training exercises across our sites, and hold frequent meetings to analyse the call-outs they receive from us."

He said the fire service had not raised any concerns over the Trust's fire procedures.

"It was actually very complimentary following its latest training exercise carried out at St. Ann’s Hospital in Poole,” he added.

According to the National Fire Chiefs Council, false alarms are a growing problem and are a "considerable drain" on fire and rescue service resources.

They could pose a risk to safety by diverting firefighters away from genuine emergencies or by causing complacency towards what could be real alarms, it said.

Across England, the number of call-outs to NHS trusts rose by eight per cent last year, from 6,533 in 2016-17 to 7,065 in 2017-18.