A statement from One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System NHS partners said the critical incident had ‘allowed the NHS in Gloucestershire to take additional, immediate steps to create capacity in community and hospital services, help discharge patients, relieve pressure on the emergency departments and also release ambulances and their crews'.

Chief medical officer at NHS Gloucestershire, Dr Ananthakrishnan Raghuram (Raghu) said: ‘We would like to place on record our heartfelt thanks to health and care professionals in practices, community services, hospital wards and departments and emergency services for their superb efforts during an incredibly challenging period – going well beyond the call of duty for their patients.'

Northamptonshire ICB said it had also stood down its critical incident declared on Tuesday 7 January.

Maria Laffan, chief nursing officer NHS Northamptonshire ICB, said: ‘Although the critical incident has now been stood down, our services, particularly our hospitals and ambulance service remain extremely busy.'

Dr Naomi Caldwell, deputy chief medical officer NHS Northamptonshire ICB, added: ‘We are still seeing high prevalence of flu, respiratory conditions and winter bugs in our communities, and we would continue to urge local people who are eligible but have not yet been vaccinated to continue coming forward for their flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations.'