A field hospital in London will be used if necessary to relieve pressure on other hospitals in the city, the British Minister for Health says after leaked official documents suggests London risks running out of beds within two weeks.

Projections leaked to the Health Service Journal showed that even if the number of COVID-19 patients increased at the lowest rate considered likely, London hospitals would be short of nearly 2000 acute and intensive beds by 19 January.

Asked about the projections, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Thursday he was concerned about the pressures on the NHS. He said the government was putting extra resources into the parts of the country under the most significant strain.

“For instance in London, (we’re) making sure that the Nightingale hospital is on standby and there, if needed. And if it is needed, of course, then it will be used,” he said, referring to a field hospital that was set up at the start of the pandemic.