COVID patients from the south have been transferred to Newcastle, it has been claimed.

It comes as stretched London hospitals continue to grapple with rising infection rates in the capital.

The Guardian were first to report the transfers, with the BBC claiming fewer than five patients had been moved to ease pressure on the NHS – a claim the NHS has reportedly denied.

However, the BBC is reporting the North of England Critical Care Network is said to have confirmed patients had been moved to other parts of the country. 

NHS England for the North-East and Yorkshire and the North of England Critical Care Network have been contacted for comment by the Courant.