“THIS is the most serious situation our local NHS services have ever faced.”

These are the words of Public Health Dorset, as it revealed that coronavirus hospital admissions soared past 500 across the county, more than three times as many as the peak in the first wave.

As of January 13, around 360 people were being treated with coronavirus in the Royal Bournemouth and Poole hospitals, part of the University Hospitals Dorset Trust.

This was an increase of more than 100 in just five days.

However, University Hospitals Dorset confirmed on Tuesday that the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 was now “over 400”, with the figure fluctuating regularly.

The Dorset County Hospital said 83 patients were occupying beds with Covid-19.

And Public Health Dorset revealed more than 500 people were in hospital with the virus county-wide.

Posting on Twitter, it said: “There are now over 500 patients with Covid-19 in hospital beds across Dorset.

“During the first wave, Covid hospitalisations in Dorset peaked at around 130 patients.

“This is the most serious situation our local NHS services have ever faced.

"Play your part and stay at home.”

As reported, the University Hospitals Dorset Trust anticipated needing 600 beds to cover the peak of this wave of the virus.

And the spokesperson confirmed the hospitals had not reached the peak yet and urged people to continue following the rules.

Medical director for medicine for UHD, Dr Tristan Richardson, described the pressure as “an ongoing onslaught”.

He said: “The vaccination programme won’t help ease the immense pressure in ICU for several months because these age groups won’t be vaccinated for some time.

“The strains on medical staff are massive.

“We are delivering safe care, but at the cost of working harder, longer and more stress than ever before in this pandemic.

“Staff are tired, stressed and they worry about what the next shift or the next will bring and at the moment do not see any light at the end of the tunnel.

“A number are suffering from PTSD, I know that for a fact.”