Mid and South Essex Trust - which runs Southend and Basildon hospitals - was caring for 369 coronavirus patients in hospital as of this week, NHS England figures show.

The data shows that the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on December 15 was up from 257 on the same day the previous week.

The number of beds at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust occupied by people who tested positive for Covid-19 more than doubled in the last four weeks – 28 days ago, there were 138.

Across England there were 15,031 people in hospital with Covid as of December 15, with 1,159 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised has increased by 4 per cent, while those on mechanical ventilators has decreased by 6%, in the last four weeks across England.

The figures also show that 323 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust in the week to December 13. This was up from 210 in the previous seven days.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital in eastern England, which includes Essex, is now higher than levels recorded at the peak of the first wave of the virus, figures show.

The data comes as some trusts said they had postponed some services amid increasing numbers of coronavirus patients.

A total of 1,734 hospital patients with confirmed Covid-19 were reported on December 16.

During the first wave, the number of patients in eastern England peaked at 1,679 on April 12.

It means the first-wave peak of Covid-19 patients has now been surpassed in three of the seven NHS regions in England.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust said some non-urgent operations have been postponed and added that surgery will continue to be prioritised based on clinical need.

The trust’s deputy chief executive Tom Abell said they are dealing with a rising number of coronavirus patients and urged people to follow the rules.

He said: “The hospital is open and patients should attend planned appointments and procedures as normal unless we contact them to say otherwise.

“The number of Covid-19 patients we’re caring for is increasing and it’s vital that our patients and the local community follow the national guidance to help keep people safe.”

The total number of Covid-19 patients in hospital in England stood at 15,465 on December 16, up from 13,467 a week earlier.

During the first wave of the virus, this number peaked at 18,974 on April 12.

All figures are taken from the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

A spokesman for NHS East of England said: “The number of Covid-19 patients being cared for in the East of England has increased, some trusts have more Covid patients than they looked after in the first wave of Covid, which is why it is so important for people to follow national guidance to help reduce transmission rates.”