NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB announced the incidents at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. The ICB also declared a critical incident order to provide support and co-ordination to ensure critical services were maintained.

A further critical incident was declared by East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust.

Speaking yesterday, Dr Charlotte Canniff, joint chief medical officer of NHS Surrey Heartlands, said: ‘Due to extreme pressures, today hospitals and the ICB in Surrey Heartlands have taken the decision to escalate to a critical incident.

‘This allows us to take additional steps to maintain safe services for our patients and help us cope with the growing pressures.'

The ICB said the escalation was a result of a surge in complex attendances to A&E departments and ongoing challenges in discharging patients who are well enough to leave hospital. Pressures were compounded by higher flu and norovirus cases, staff sickness and more admissions of frail patients due to the recent cold weather.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust also declared a critical incident due to sustained pressures at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate.

A trust spokesperson said: ‘This decision has not been taken lightly. Our hospitals are experiencing exceptionally high demand, driven by a continued high admission rate and a large number of patients with winter illnesses and respiratory viruses. As a result, beds across our hospitals are currently full and attendance at our emergency departments is extremely high, meaning there is very limited capacity to admit further patients who need acute care.'