Hospitals in the south of England have seen a "real rise in pressure" as the number of coronavirus patients receiving treatment heads towards the April peak.
Paramedics in the capital are receiving almost 8,000 call-outs daily, with Boxing Day described as one of London Ambulance Service's "busiest ever days".
The rise in patients come as hopes grow for the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in the coming days, with volunteers ready to help roll out the jab nationwide, according to reports.
Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, told the BBC “ambulance trusts in particular are coming under extreme pressure, as are community and mental health services” as “many more people” are coming through the door with Covid and other conditions.
The 7,918 calls received by London Ambulance Service on 26 December was up more than 2,500 on the 5,217 received on the same day last year, and medics are receiving support from other ambulance services in the south.
