People suffering a heart attack or a stroke during the coronavirus pandemic were today urged not to be afraid of seeking medical attention.

During the government's daily briefing in which a further three week lockdown was confirmed, chief medical officer Chris Witty stressed that the NHS still has capacity to deal with other serious medical emergencies.

He suggested that those who ignored accessing help would only be adding to the country's rate of mortality.

And that it would be "sad" if the resources put aside were not used.

He said: "People die for many reasons in epidemics.

"They include the direct cause of death but they can also include people who died, for example, if they stayed at home because they were worried that going into hospital was dangerous for them, and actually they have heart attack or a stroke or something important like that.

"It is really critical for people to realise if they're having a medical emergency; a heart attack, a stroke, a really bad flair up of asthma; things that could be life-threatening, that the NHS is open for business.

"One of the things that the British public have done by taking the pressure off NHS and staying at home, and my remarkable colleagues at the NHS have done by building up NHS capacity, is we have always maintained ability to handle emergencies whether Covid or not.

"We really appreciate people taking pressure off the NHS for the less urgent things but I really want to encourage people who are having these life threatening or life changing things to go to hospital, contact NHS 111 where that's necessary.

"Because it would be very sad to have a situation where the NHS had managed to preserve the ability to do emergencies and people are not coming forward."

The British Heart Foundation has echoed the advice, suggesting figures already show that fewer people suffering heart attacks are being seen in hospitals.

Its website states: "Whether or not you have coronavirus symptoms, it's essential to dial 999 if you have symptoms that could be a heart attack or stroke, or if your heart symptoms get worse.

"We are hearing that fewer people are being seen in hospital with heart attacks in recent weeks, which suggests that people are not seeking help when they should do.

"Don't delay because you think hospitals are too busy - the NHS still has systems in place to treat people for heart attacks.

"If you delay, you are more likely to suffer serious heart damage and more likely to need intensive care and to spend longer in hospital."

Families have paid tribute to their loved ones who have sadly lost their fight against Covid-19 on our memorial page.

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