The prospect of a long drawn-out flu season is keeping the head of the NHS in England, Sir Jim Mackey, awake at night, he revealed earlier this week.

Mackey needs his calming music and ear plugs – experts are predicting the impact of the virus on the NHS will be the worst for 10 years.

And with a five-day doctors’ strike going ahead next week likely to fuel the waiting list backlog, the NHS is on course for yet another winter crisis , with Mackey warning that it could be “the toughest our staff have ever faced”. New Feature

In Short

Quick Stories. Same trusted journalism.

But there are structural improvements being made, under Mackey and Health Secretary Wes Streeting , which they hope will mitigate the worst effects – such as moving patients more quickly out of hospital so they

See Full Page