Health leaders are continuing to work with GPs to make sure plans for the predicted winter rush are in place.

East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Health Authority has split £1.8 million set aside for the busier months between December and March among its six primary care groups, which plan community medical care.

Winter planners in the South East have been liaising with the Government about how the plans to cope during the hectic winter months are progressing. Some hospitals in Sussex are still struggling to recruit nurses.

Managers at the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, have told the Government's winter planning officials they fear staff shortages might hamper their ability to handle winter pressures.

The East and West Sussex health authorities are working flat out to make sure there are enough beds and resources to deal with the influx of flu cases and elderly patients admitted to hospitals when temperatures plummet.

For the first time, hospitals and GPs will be given extra support by the telephone helpline NHS Direct, which will be introduced in Sussex at the end of October.

Last winter health managers were under so much pressure some dead bodies were stored in refrigerated lorries.

This year doctors will give more flu vaccinations, talk to neighbouring hospitals to make sure all possible beds are used, limit the number of non-emergency operations carried out and ensure more bodies can be buried.