NHS hospital staff have been asked to postpone their holidays after the hospital was hit by a huge influx of coronavirus patients.
Staff at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is currently seeing hospital cases double week-on-week, as the region has one of the highest coronavirus infection rates in the country.
But due to the massive increase in patients, the hospital is number under "extreme pressure" and has asked staff to postpone their holidays.
Hospital bosses sent an internal message to staff this week, in which they explained that the trust now had 80 Covid patients in its care, compared to just two a month before.
The message said: “The Trust is currently under extreme pressure due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
“Many people are seriously ill and receiving intensive care support.”
It added: "If you are due to take annual leave but feel able to postpone this to help support the Trust’s Covid-19 response, please talk to your line manager ASAP.”
It went on to ask staff to work additional shifts and even offered t pay an extra £250 to those who could work an extra week of overtime spread over the next six weeks.
Staff were also told they may need to work outside their normal area. Those who can work from home have been asked to do so.
The memo also thanked staff for their hard work. It said: “Thank you all for your continued hard work and incredible support to keep our patients safe.
“It certainly feels like we are entering a very difficult period, especially after the long slog of the past year.”
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