The NHS may have to deal with “one of the most difficult starts to the year” it has ever faced, a medical leader has warned. National medical director for NHS England Professor Sir Stephen Powis said flu and winter illnesses, combined with staff absences due to coronavirus, are set to add more pressure to services as it also grapples with the doctors strike. Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn