Responding to the prime minister's update, deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said:

"The prime minister's update today serves to remind us that COVID-19 will be with us for some time yet.

"The NHS rose to the unprecedented challenge of caring for hundreds of thousands of the sickest patients at the peak of the pandemic and have now already embarked on the challenge of restarting a whole range of services that were paused.

"Along with other providers of key services, the NHS will be following the experience in the north west to ensure they can be ready if further surges in cases are seen.

"The good news is that hospital admissions for COVID-19 remain low and this is allowing the NHS to get back to meeting the demand for routine services.

"No-one wants to see a return to tighter lockdown restrictions and it is vital that everyone plays their part during this next phase in order to protect the NHS.

"There is absolutely no room for complacency, if the NHS is to meet the considerable challenge of restarting services and also have capacity available to continue to treat patients with COVID-19."