A Liverpool hospital doctor says he spent all of yesterday admitting covid patients to critical care wards.
The day was named 'Freedom Day' by some, with the government controversially removing all public health measures and restrictions in England, despite soaring infection levels and rising hospitalisations.
In Liverpool, NHS doctors have spoken to the ECHO about the huge pressures they are now facing, with more routine surgeries being cancelled as they try to accommodate rising numbers of patients who are very ill with the virus.
Read more: Boris Johnson joked elderly with covid would live longer
Dr Peter Hampshire, who is clinical director for critical care and pain at Liverpool's main university hospital trust, took to Twitter last night and said: "I've spent all day admitting COVID patients to ICU. How was your Freedom Day?"
The tweet went viral, with more than 17,000 likes and over 5,000 shares.
Hundreds of people responded to Dr Hampshire's tweet, many thanking him and his team for their efforts.
One said: "I cannot begin to imagine how the entire NHS must be feeling right now, it’s not much but our family will continue with masks and social distancing until the scientists and the medics say it’s safe."
Another added: "Stay safe doc, thanks for all you're doing."
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Dr Hampshire spoke out last week about the increasingly difficult situation at the trust - which includes the Royal Liverpool Hospital and Aintree.
He said: "I'm not sure that many people understand that hospitals are already under significant pressure, even before all restrictions are lifted. I'm on ICU this week & in Liverpool, 1/3rd of our critical care beds are occupied by people with COVID. It feels like last October.
"With a slow but steady rise in cases. We have already offered mutual aid to Manchester. And our Emergency Department & ambulance colleagues are under massive pressure. NHS staff are still recovering from the winter/autumn/spring we had and it's not uncommon to talk to staff who have been off with stress."
The ECHO understands that there are now around 90 covid patients being cared for in the trust, with around 20 in critical care beds.
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