Johnson warned NHS to stay ‘at full stretch’ for weeks as he plans to ease lockdown

The health service is likely to remain stretched for the next six to eight weeks, the Prime Minister has been told (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

The NHS is likely to remain “at full stretch” for at least another six weeks, a leading health official said as he warned the Prime Minister against easing lockdown too quickly.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS trusts in England, has written to Boris Johnson calling for a focus on “data, not just dates” when it comes to the UK government’s approach to the route out of lockdown.