EAST Lancashire’s hospital staff were caring for 234 coronavirus patients as of last week, the latest figures have shown.

The data shows that the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on November 24 was up from 229 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 increased by 38 per cent in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 170.

Across England, the number of Covid-19 patients being hospitalised has increased by 69 per cent, while those on mechanical ventilators have increased by 76 per cent in the last four weeks.

The figures also show that 263 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in the week to November 22.

This was up from 149 in the previous seven days, the trust says.