Four out of the five NHS trusts in England that have announced more than 200 deaths linked to coronavirus are in London.
Figures from NHS England show that as of 5pm on April 10, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust has the most Covid-19 related deaths in the capital at 263, while Royal Free London trust has 251.
King’s College Hospital trust has seen 234 virus-related deaths and Barts Health NHS Trust in east London has had 220.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has the most in England at 394.
It comes as the UK’s coronavirus death toll rose to nearly 10,000 on Saturday after a further 917 fatalities were recorded in one day.
Across the country 78,991 people have tested positive and 20,101 people are being treated in hospital.
Home Secretary Priti Patel dodged a direct apology to NHS workers on Saturday amid a deepening row between the Government and NHS staff over personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages on the front line.
Asked twice at the Downing Street news conference if she would apologise to NHS staff and their families, Ms Patel said: “I’m sorry if people feel that there have been failings. I will be very, very clear about that.
“But at the same time, we are in an unprecedented global health pandemic right now.
“It is inevitable that the demand and the pressures on PPE and demand for PPE are going to be exponential. They are going to be incredibly high. And of course we are trying to address that as a government.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock was earlier criticised for telling NHS staff that PPE is a “precious resource”, but vowed testing for all hospital and social care workers.
The British Medical Association said doctors would be forced to face “heartbreaking decisions” over whether to carry on amid “dangerously low levels” in London and Yorkshire hospitals.
A total of 19 NHS staff have died after contracting coronavirus since the pandemic began.
