NHS England is to postpone all non-urgent operations in a bid to free up 30,000 beds to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Chief Executive of the NHS, Sir Simon Stevens laid out the plans in a letter published on the NHS England website today.

The blanket postponement of all 'non-urgent elective operations' comes into force from April 15 and will last for a period of at least three months, although hospitals will have the discretion to reduce operations earlier than this date.

The statement says that emergency admissions, cancer treatment and other clinically urgent care should continue unaffected.

The Chief Executive also advised that NHS England is currently in the process of block-buying capacity in independent hospitals - a process that should be complete within a fortnight.

Other measures to free up beds include urgently discharging all hospital inpatients who are medically fit to leave.

The letter tells staff to prepare for, and respond to, large numbers of inpatients requiring respiratory support.

Sir Simon Stevens said: "COVID-19 presents the NHS with arguably the greatest challenge it has faced since its creation. Our health service - through our skilled and dedicated staff - is renowned for the professional, flexible and resilient way that it responds to adversity."