A LEAKED NHS document suggests that Royal Bolton Hospital is close to running out of beds to treat Covid-19 patients.

A report in The Guardian said that some of Greater Manchester’s 12 hospitals are already full following a devastating 'second wave' of the disease in recent weeks.

The report said hospitals in Bolton, Salford and Stockport were all at full capacity at the end of last week with no spare beds to cope with a growing influx of patients.

The leaked NHS document "suggested that Greater Manchester’s hospitals are quickly heading towards being overwhelmed by the sheer number of people with Covid needing emergency care to save their lives, in the same way that those in Liverpool have become in recent weeks", according to the national newspaper.

According to the report, by Friday, October 16, 211 of the 257 critical care beds in Greater Manchester – 82% of the total supply – were already being used for either those with Covid or people who were critically ill because of another illness.

Greater Manchester hospitals admitted 110 new patients with confirmed or suspected Covid in the 24 hours before the data was produced and shared with NHS bosses on Friday, illustrating the intense pressure they are coming under. That took the total number of Covid cases they were dealing with then to 520.

The NHS said in a statement: "We are monitoring the situation with our hospital admissions, overall beds and ITU beds very, very closely. "It's not unusual for 80% to 85% of ICU beds to be in use at this time of year and our hospitals work together if there are particular pressures in any one area, to ensure the best care for patients who need the high level of support ICU provides, both for COVID and for other reasons."

The leaked report was published as local leaders across Greater Manchester continue heated negotiations with the Conservative Government over the introduction of tougher measures in the region.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has hit out over "uncertainty" regarding further coronavirus restrictions in Greater Manchester.

The Cabinet minister told Sky News: "I think the discussions have been productive but they have probably gone on too long now. We need to reach an agreement with local leaders.

"I am hopeful that we can reach an agreement, but we do need to conclude this now.

"There has been a sense of uncertainty, which isn't helpful to people living in Greater Manchester.

"More importantly, the number of cases is rising and the pressure on some of the hospitals in Greater Manchester is there for all to see.

"So, I think further measures and action now is important.

"The contours of an agreement are there.

"But, as I say, every side needs to now come together and reach an amicable conclusion for the sake of people in Greater Manchester."

Asked if he had offered Manchester a bigger financial settlement, Mr Jenrick said: "I have offered, in discussions that we have had, a range of different things that local leaders would like.

"Whether that's greater control over local tracing, whether it is use of the armed forces, whether it is more resources for local councils.

"We want to put together a package of measures that will actually work."