The data, which shows 8,669 attendances for itchy skin and 96,998 for a sore throat, came as the NHS launched a short film titled 24 Hours Not In A&E as part of a campaign to help people avoid unnecessary visits to A&E departments and GPs.

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting, said: ‘This winter will be one of the busiest ever for our hard-working NHS staff dealing with soaring flu cases and tough pressures across A&Es up and down the country.

‘That will be made even harder by the BMA's dangerously reckless decision to strike in the run up to Christmas, causing real anxiety for patients and their families at such an important time of the year.

‘We are doing all we can to make sure patients are kept safe and get the right care during this time of intense pressure. We can all do our bit this winter by making sure we only use A&E in for genuine accidents and emergencies.'

The move came as flu cases rise ahead of the resident doctors' strikes from 17-22 December.

Alternative services being flagged by NHSE include:

-          Pharmacy First giving patients access to quick, easy support – including prescription-only medicines - for seven common conditions, including sore throat, sinusitis and earache

-          for the first time ever during winter, pharmacists will be able to provide an emergency contraceptive pill and support people who have been newly prescribed antidepressants

-          Nearly all (98.7%) GP practices offering online consultation requests for patients, with 8m benefitting in October.

-          for more serious cases, new urgent treatment centres – where patients can get care for a range of illnesses and injuries – have been opening across England, including Plymouth, Lymington in Hampshire and Yeovil in recent weeks.