London coronavirus crisis: Hospitals facing 'continuous tsunami' of patients - NHS warning

The NHS is already struggling to cope with the coronavirus crisis, a health service leader has claimed. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which organises NHS trusts, said hospitals are experiencing an "explosion of demand". He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: "They [London hospitals] are struggling with two things. The first is the explosion of demand they are seeing in seriously ill patients.

"They talk about wave after wave after wave - the word that’s often used to me is a continuous tsunami.

"We are now seeing 30 percent, 40 percent and indeed in some places 50 percent sickness rates as staff catch the virus or are in vulnerable groups or have to self-isolate. That’s an unprecedented absence rate.

"So what we have got is a really wicked combination - trusts trying to deal with a lot more demand than they have ever had before with a lot fewer staff than they have had before."

Mr Hopson also said hospital bosses were concerned beds will be used up "very, very quickly", even with the extra capacity being brought in.

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163 patients in the UK have been described as in a "serious or critical condition", according to data from Worldometers - which provides live coronavirus coverage.

The number of UK cases reached 9,529 on Wednesday, with the death toll rising by 43, taking Britain's total to 465.

Most of the cases in the UK are primarily located in London.

More than one third of the deaths have been in the capital, with figures reaching almost 170 by Thursday. 

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London mayor Sadiq Khan has urged the public to stay at home and avoid using public transport, which he says should only be used by key workers. 

He said doing this "will save Londoners' lives".

The mayor has been heavily criticsed this week after it emerged several London underground services were packed full of commuters. 

But Mr Khan has reassured the public Transport for London has seen a daily decline in people using the services. 

Mr Khan said early-morning Tube use on Thursday was down 13 percent on the previous day, while bus use was down 8 percent over the same period.

He wrote on Twitter: "Thank you to all Londoners who are following the rules and staying home.

"The more we stay at home the more lives we can save."

How are you coping with the coronavirus lockdown? What are you doing to keep yourself entertained in these difficult times? How are you helping your local community, or has someone in the local community been helping you? Send your stories, pictures and videos to dan.falvey@reachplc.com