THE supply levels of oxygen in Southend Hospital have reached a "critical situation" according to bosses in an internal memo.

The memo, sent to staff by the managing director and clinical director for medicine of the hospital and shared publicly by the Save Southend NHS group, said it is "imperative" the situation is acted on immediately.

The memo said: "We have reached a critical situation with oxygen supply. It is imperative we use oxygen safely and efficiently.

"All patients should have a target saturation of 88 - 92%.

"Patients with a saturation above 92% which are on oxygen should have their oxygen weaned within the target range.

"I can assure you that maintaining saturations within this target range is safe and no patient will come to harm as a result.

"It is imperative that this is acted on immediately."

According to the British Lung Foundation, for someone who is healthy, the normal blood oxygen saturation level will be around 95–100%.

The news comes as Southend Hospital had 17 more deaths linked to Covid-19 recorded between December 26 and January 6.

A "major incident" was declared for all Essex hospitals two weeks ago as the number of Covid-19 cases threatened to overwhelm the hospitals.

Yvonne Blucher, Managing Director of Southend Hospital, said: "We are experiencing high demand for oxygen because of rising numbers of inpatients with Covid-19 and we are working to manage this.

"The public can play their part by staying home and, where they cannot, following the ‘hands, face, space’ advice to cut the spread of the virus.”