Flu is tearing through London , Wes Streeting is warning as he urged doctors to call off their five-day strike to protect the NHS in the run-up to Christmas.

The Health Secretary issued his plea as latest figures showed flu hospitalisation cases in the capital had jumped 47% in just a week.

There were 380 people with flu in London hospitals on average each day in the week ending December 7, compared to 259 the previous week.

Mr Streeting, the MP for Ilford North, has warned cases may triple in coming weeks and that the strike could be “the Jenga piece” that topples the work of hospitals to deliver care during the Christmas period.

The latest walkout by resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, will take place from 7am next Wednesday, December 17, until Decembe

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