HOSPITALS in the Somerset NHS Trust were caring for 36 coronavirus patients in hospital as of Tuesday, figures show.

NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital for Covid-19 by 8am on August 31 was up from 34 on the same day the previous week.

There were eight beds occupied by Covid-19 patients four weeks ago in the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust area, which includes Musgrove Park Hospital.

The Yeovil Trust, which includes Yeovil General Hospital, was treating 14 Covid-19 patients.

Across England there were 6,293 people in hospital with Covid as of August 31, with 879 of them in mechanical ventilation beds.

The number of Covid-19 patients hospitalised nationally rose by 23% in the last four weeks, while the number on mechanical ventilators increased by 13%.

The figures also show that 37 new Covid patients were admitted to hospital in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in the week to August 29. This was up from 32 in the previous seven days.