Critically-ill coronavirus patients are being transferred from over-stretched London intensive care units to hospitals as far away as Newcastle, according to reports.

Hospitals outside the capital with large critical care capacity have been asked to help alleviate the pressure in London, the BBC reports.

A small number, fewer than five, were reportedly moved from the capital, almost 300 miles away.

Patients have also been moved 67 miles to Northampton, 125 miles to Birmingham and 167 miles to Sheffield, the Guardian reports.

The North of England Critical Care Network, which co-ordinates provision in the North East, north Cumbria and North Yorkshire, confirmed patients had been moved from other parts of England.

In statement, director Lelsey Durham said: "During this pandemic and at these times of unprecedented pressures, we have ensured equity of patient access to critical care though mutual aid between units in the form of critical care patient transfers.

"We are also working with our colleagues and networks further afield.

"Whilst not ideal, it is correct to ensure that every person, regardless of location, has access to a critical care bed if they require one."

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Multiple hospitals in London have come close to overload in recent weeks, as Mayor Sadiq Khan announced a ‘major incident’ in the capital due to the strain on resources.

The number of Covid arrivals forced the Royal London hospital to go into “disaster medicine mode” before the new year, which it admitted led to a drop in standards of care.

Today, Public Health England warned that London faces further difficulties ahead, with levels of transmission remaining high and continuing to strain the capital's hospitals.

Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director for Public Health England, said: “Case rates in London remain extremely high and around 10,000 Londoners were diagnosed with COVID every day this week.

"This level of transmission is severe, and continues to drive pressure on the NHS, with more Londoners being admitted to ICU and ultimately dying from this disease or having long-term complications.

“As a result, we have more difficult weeks ahead of us. This more contagious variant means we are unlikely to see sharp declines like we did in the first wave, and the longer cases remain high, the more deaths we will see.

“That is why we must work twice as hard to reduce transmission and lower infections. Staying at home and cutting our contacts will stop the virus spreading, reduce cases more quickly and ultimately save lives.”

There were a further 48,682 confirmed cases reported on Thursday an additional 1,248 deaths recorded in the previous 24 hours.