NHS Tayside has received almost a million pounds in additional funding to manage the demands of the festive season.
The service has received £950,000 from the Scottish Government to roll out flu vaccinations in GP surgeries, create additional bed capacity and provide pharmacy staff and Scottish Ambulance Service cover for weekends and seven-day working.
NHS Tayside chiefs hope that this will ease pressure across the system, including reducing waiting times at A&E.
Holyrood has allocated investment of almost £28.2 million across Scotland, of which £10m is invested in the Water Resilience Fund and £8.2m in the Unscheduled Care Action Plan to improve the way emergency care operates in hospitals.
The allocations have been targeted to focus spend on patient flow within hospitals and in wider settings.
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “I welcome this commitment from NHS Tayside to cope with extra demands at this time of year.
“Winter brings additional pressures for the health service and this funding will help to ensure preparations are in place.
“While people can help ease the strain by stocking up their medicine cabinet, getting a free vaccination if at risk of flu and knowing when their GP surgery is closed, the NHS still needs to play its part in preparing for whatever winter might bring.
“This announcement today by NHS Tayside will build on the work being carried out across Scotland this winter to make sure health services are well prepared to maintain the high standards that patients deserve.”
All health boards across Scotland have been issued guidance outlining how they can prepare effectively for winter, including planning for severe weather, scheduling treatment and vaccinating staff.
The director of acute services at NHS Tayside, Lorna Wiggin, said: “We will use this funding to further our winter planning strategy, ensuring that we deliver the right services to the right people at the right time.”