Health Secretary Matt Hancock has revealed that 4,500 retired doctors and nurses have signed up to return to the NHS to assist those affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

Tweeting a video thanking the 4,000 nurses and 500 doctors who have already returned, Hancock also said the help of 'many more' health professionals is still needed, telling them that their NHS needs them during this 'unprecedented crisis'.

In the short video, he said: "With coronavirus growing, on Friday we put out the call asking recently retired doctors, nurses, other health professionals, to come back to the NHS to help in this unprecedented crisis.

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Credit: PA

"I'm delighted that in the first 48 hours, 4,000 nurses and 500 doctors have already signed up. But we need many more.

"It's easy to do, and we will make sure that your service is put to best effect.

"The whole country needs the NHS right now, and if you're a retired doctor or a retired nurse, then your NHS needs you."

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Credit: Matt Hancock

In Hancock's tweet, he said the thousands already signed up showed 'brilliant support' in the 'national effort tackling coronavirus'.

NHS staff have been praised widely for their work on the frontline of the coronavirus outbreak.

The government has even launched a #StayHomeSaveLives campaign asking people to stay at home to not only save the lives of the elderly and vulnerable, but also to 'protect the NHS', which is already strained.

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Our amazing NHS staff want to be there to help you and your loved ones over the coming weeks and months.



You can help them right now by staying inside. #StayHomeSaveLives https://t.co/qhfdh51HDk

- Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 21, 2020

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered people to practice social distancing, while many others may even have to social isolate. (If you're not sure which applies to you, please refer to advice on the NHS website.)

In one of his daily coronavirus briefings, Johnson said: "I say to the people who do go against the advice that we're getting - the very clear advice that we're getting - from our medical and scientific experts, you're not only putting your own life, the lives of your family at risk, you're endangering the community and you're making it more difficult for us to get on and protect the NHS and save lives.

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"And if people comply, as I say, then we will not only save lives, thousands of lives, but we'll come out of this thing all the faster."