Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, fears this winter could be “as tough as the pandemic” for under-pressure hospitals. View Image Hospitals will be at breaking point (Image: Getty Images)

The NHS could plunge into its biggest crisis in years over the doctors’ strike and an early flu season, a health service boss warned. Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, fears this winter could be “as tough as the pandemic” for under-pressure hospitals. ‌

He warned that swamped A&E departments were set to see a record demand from people with the bug. It comes after figures showed flu cases are three times higher than usual for this time of year. ‌

Mackey said: “There is likely to be more footfall through A&E this winter than any on record, with a flu season on the horizon

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