The growing pressure at Blackpool Victoria Hospital as Covid and winter combine

Since November 2, the proportion of vacant beds at the Vic fell below 4 per cent on nine different days, according to NHS England figures – a figure experts have said can lead to shortages.

Bosses say it is near impossible to say how much of the current demand on staff is down to the pandemic. Previous winters have also seen the number of spare beds plummet to similar levels.

And amid calls for another national lockdown to prevent "catastrophe" in hospitals across England, they urged people to help stop the NHS being overwhelmed in the coming weeks.

A Vic spokesman said: "It is important that we do all we can to stick to the rules on Covid – wash your hands more frequently, wear a mask or face covering and maintain social distancing.

"It is also important people do all they can to keep themselves fit and healthy and that they seek medical care early, rather than risking becoming seriously ill and needing care in one of our hospitals.”

On average, between November 2 and December 20, 6.6 per cent of all general and acute beds at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were available. The national average was more than 12 per cent.

Vic medical director Dr Jim Gardner warned last week that people who were - or had been - Covid positive made up almost 250 of the patients at the hospital.

"Our emergency department has remained very busy and the number of ambulances coming has been very high," he said.

Meanwhile, NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens has warned that doctors and nurses are “back in the eye of the storm”.

Figures from NHS England show there were 20,426 patients in NHS hospitals in England as of 8am on Monday (December 28), compared with the 18,974 patients recorded on April 12.

Sir Simon said: “Many of us have lost family, friends, colleagues and – at a time of year when we would normally be celebrating – a lot of people are understandably feeling anxious, frustrated and tired.

“And now, again, we are back in the eye of the storm with a second wave of coronavirus sweeping Europe and, indeed, this country.”

Prof Hayward, professor of infectious diseases epidemiology at University College London, said widespread Tier 4 restrictions – or even higher – are likely to be needed as the country moves towards “near-lockdown”.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think we are entering a very dangerous new phase of the pandemic and we’re going to need decisive, early, national action to prevent a catastrophe in January and February."