'Risk' warning as record levels of people in hospital with flu

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has issued a warning

The Health Secretary has issued a warning that a potential strike by resident doctors over the festive period would pose a "much different degree of risk" compared to previous walkouts, as the number of flu patients in English hospitals has reached an unprecedented high for this time of year.

Wes Streeting added that he "cannot think of a single other trade union in this country that would behave this way". Mr Streeting expressed his disappointment at the British Medical Association's (BMA) refusal to accept his offer to extend their strike mandate if they called off the planned action, labelling the decision as "inexplicable".

He also informed MPs that the Government "cannot guarantee" that the NHS will be able to uphold 95% of el