THE number of intensive care beds at Barrow’s hospital could be increased as coronavirus continues to claim lives in Cumbria.

A further seven people have died in Cumbria over the past few days after testing positive for COVID-19.

Three people died at hospitals run by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust between Wednesday March 25 and Thursday March 26.

The trust runs Furness General Hospital, Westmorland General Hospital and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Meanwhile, four people lost their lives to COVID-19 at hospitals run by North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust during the same time.

The trust runs the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital

Resources at the NHS are being stretched to their limits to deal with the impacts of the pandemic in the county.

Temporary coronavirus hospitals are being set up to ease pressures and deal with the demand.

Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Slattery, chairman of the Local Resilience Forum, has assured the county he and other members of the group are working hard to try and ease the pressure on the NHS.

“There is a lot of work going on to plan for the impact of COVID-19 and I am grateful to our partners for all the work they are doing to enable us to prepare for what may be coming," he said.

“This work includes sensible planning around any buildings that could be utilised differently, if needed, and about planning to make sure we have enough capacity in all areas whether it is increased pressure on NHS services or an increase in the number of deaths.

“There are lots of conversations taking place to make sure we are as ready as we can be.

"We’ll be making sure our communities know of any formal plans when we have agreed any measures."

Colin Cox, director of public health, said: “Intensive care capacity in the north of Cumbria has been doubled; they now have 30 beds. The intention is to do something very similar in the south [of Cumbria].”

A new facility that could be set up at the Cumberland Infirmary could be regional, he said. “There’s a lot going on, and it’s very much in line with the national strategy.”