Almost half of emergency detentions on mental health grounds were made without first getting consent from a specialist social worker, a review has found.

Between July and December last year a total of 1,109 emergency detention certificates (EDCs) were used in crisis situations to detain a patient deemed to need urgent care or treatment.

The Mental Health Act states consent to this should be obtained from a specialist social worker, known as a mental health officer, wherever practical.

A review by the Mental Welfare Commission found consent was only granted in 55% of cases.

In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, where 374 detentions were authorised over the six-month period, 66% were without consent, according to the review - which was ordered by the Scottish Government.

Any doctor can issue an EDC, which then allows for someone to be kept in hospital for 72 hours.

The Mental Welfare Commission has now called on the Scottish Government to urge action plans be drawn-up in areas where there is a low rate of consent.

Ministers are also being urged to make sure they give "sufficiently clear guidance on the expectations on doctors and mental health officers in relation to emergency detention" while health boards are being urged to review training and guidance on the use of EDCs for junior doctors.

Colin McKay, chief executive of the Mental Welfare Commission, said: "While there was no single reason why consents were sometimes so low, I hope health boards and local authorities across Scotland can learn from our findings."

He added he was "particularly pleased" the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health and Social Care Partnership had taken the issue on board and drawn up an improvement plan.

Mr McKay said the commission "were pleased to be asked to undertake this audit because mental health officers play a valuable role in the decision to detain a person".

He stated: "They provide the important safeguard of looking critically at the proposal to detain and can look at alternative ways of supporting a person without needing to use compulsory admission to hospital.

"Where someone does need to be admitted, mental health officers can help explain the whole process, with the aim of trying to make the whole experience less traumatic."