The NHS is 'open for business as usual', ready to treat people for illnesses other than coronavirus and care for pregnant women as normal.
During the government's latest press conference on the coronavirus pandemic, Health Secretary Matt Hancock insisted people with health concerns besides suspected COVID-19 should go through the usual channels.
"If you need to use the NHS for reasons other than coronavirus, in the first instance call your GP or call 111," he said.
"If you do have a serious health issue, use the NHS. If it’s urgent or life-threatening, call 999."
Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, added: "This goes for pregnant women, we need them to have the confidence to contact their midwives.
"We are ready to care for you."
Mr Hancock said that despite the strain the NHS is under, COVID-19 has not led to the collapse of services.
He added: "During this crisis, at no point has the NHS been overrun. This is because we have taken the action to expand the NHS, sourced ventilators and increased capacity with the Nightingale hospitals."
Deputy chief medical officer for England, Jonathan Van-Tam, told the briefing that without the social distancing measures, the NHS would have 'absolutely' been overwhelmed some weeks ago.
“Because of the extraordinary efforts the public are making on social distancing, we have stopped the NHS from becoming overwhelmed,” he said.
"Without it, I can assure you it absolutely would have been - and several weeks ago.”
He said that preventing the NHS from being overwhelmed meant other vital services were protected.
“Road-traffic accidents will still occur, obviously at lower levels now that traffic density is down very dramatically, cardiac emergencies will continue,” he said.
“An important message for the British people is that for those emergencies, the NHS is open for business as usual and that’s the great thing about having stopped it from falling over with coronavirus, it can stay open for those critical things.”
Mr Hancock earlier revealed that at least 8,958 people across the UK have now died from coronavirus.
"Behind each number is a name and a family who will never be the same again," he added.
