More people are in hospital with coronavirus than ever before, leading to a health boss warning that many intensive care units were ‘already overwhelmed’.  

Alison Pittard, who heads the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine, said that NHS staff were ‘almost on their knees’ as wards continue to see ‘unprecedented numbers of cases, large numbers of very, very sick people, many of whom are dying’.

Pittard told Sky News: “There are many intensive care units and hospitals around the country that are already overwhelmed - seeing unprecedented numbers of cases, large numbers of very, very sick people, many of whom are dying.

“And there are staff who are almost on their knees, having been going through this non-stop for months and months and months. I think healthcare professionals who hear their situation described as not being overwhelmed is unfair.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Downing Street press conference on 18 January that more people are in hospital with coronavirus than ever before, as the latest official figures showed 37,475 were in hospital with the virus. He urged the public not to ‘blow it’ and stick to coronavirus restrictions as the vaccination rollout progresses, after warnings from the government’s Sage group there is a risk adherence may relax as more people get a jab.