The NHS, which turns 73 in July, has never dealt with anything like Covid-19 in its history.
Its dedicated staff have borne the brunt of the deadly pandemic, none more so than the North East which has been one of the hardest hit region's in the UK.
Our analysis of official figures show that at the twin peaks of the pandemic - from March to May last year and from October onwards - the wards of the region's six NHS Foundation Trust hospitals have been packed with Covid patients.
And the strain on the health services shows no sign of abating and in fact is getting worse.
Until this month, the highest daily figure for bed occupancy by confirmed Covid-19 patients was on April 9 when a total of 778 Covid patients were on the region's wards.
That figure was exceeded on January 11 when it reached 817. It continued its upward trend until it reached 862 on both January 18 and January 19 which were the most up-to-date figures at the time of writing.
Here are the figures that reveal the huge pressure the NHS has been put under by the pandemic, and continues to be put under.
MARCH
NHS Trust: Bed occupancy total for month; highest number for single day; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 386; 74; 32
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 408; 67; 34
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 89; 24; 7
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 234; 51; 8
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 260; 55; 22
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 36; 9; 3
APRIL
NHS Trust: Bed occupancy total for month; highest number for single day; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 4,377; 211; 146
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 3,426; 144; 114
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 2,954; 124; 98
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 3,236; 135; 108
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 3,430; 143; 114
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 831; 46; 28
MAY
NHS Trust: Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 1,708; 55; 121
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 1,957; 111; 63
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 753; 67; 24
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 2,124; 106; 68
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 1,322; 96; 43
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 83; 8; 3
JUNE
NHS Trust: Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 356; 25; 12
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 817; 39; 27
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 85; 4; 3
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 657; 38; 22
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 527; 26; 18
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 48; 4; 2
JULY
NHS Trust; Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 79; 6; 2.5
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 228; 22; 7
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 11; 1; 0.4
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 166; 12; 5
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 105; 7; 4
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 11; 1; 0.4
AUGUST
NHS Trust: Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 47; 3; 1.5
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 31; 4; 1
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 11; 1; 0.4
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 83; 4; 3
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 30; 3; 1
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 10; 1; 0.3
SEPTEMBER
NHS Trust; Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 796; 67; 27
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 436; 49; 15
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 211; 21; 7
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 199; 26; 7
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 296; 21; 10
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 1; 1; 0.03
OCTOBER
NHS Trust; Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 3,142; 142; 101
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 1,978; 94; 64
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 1,765; 97; 57
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 1,758; 103; 57
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 1,515; 81; 49
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 166; 12; 5
NOVEMBER
NHS Trust; Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 4,498; 164; 150
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 3,511; 146; 117
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 3,016; 141; 100
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 4,390; 171; 146
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 3,522; 153; 117
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 366; 18; 13
DECEMBER
NHS Trust; Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 5,951; 231; 192
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 1,901; 90; 61
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 827; 58; 27
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 3,892; 189; 125
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 3,052; 115; 98
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 159; 14; 5
JANUARY (to JANUARY 19)
NHS Trust; Bed occupancy total for month; highest number; average daily occupancy
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust: 4,291; 241; 226
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: 2,167; 143; 114
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust: 1,383; 89; 73
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust: 3,989; 237; 210
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: 2,247; 163; 118
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust: 399; 26; 21
