The plan will see continued investment for NHS 24 to increase service capacity to provide clinical supervision for at least 150,000 additional calls per year and help prevent unnecessary A&E attendances.

Key measures to support services in the face of increased demand include improving discharge planning for patients admitted to acute or community hospitals, maintaining established care at home packages, and a government-led delayed discharge response team to directly support boards in need of assistance. Planned care capacity will also be safeguarded with a continued focus on clearing long waits.

The joint plan also sets out action to support the mental health and well-being of service staff through increased flexible working options and dedicated mental health resources.

This year's plan has been published a month ahead of last year, and earlier than ever before, to allow more time for NHS Boards and care providers to prepare for winter surges in demand.

Health secretary Neil Gray said: ‘We are prioritising frontline services with over £14.2bn investment in our boards this year - an almost 3% real terms uplift – and also investing £2bn in social care services.

'I thank all health, social care and social work staff for their continued efforts and dedication to deliver high quality care. It is fundamental we safeguard their wellbeing, and improved options on flexible working and continued access to mental health resources will ensure staff are supported over this challenging period.'

Cllr Paul Kelly, COSLA health and social care spokesperson, said: ‘We know that local government and health and social care partnerships across Scotland are working hard to plan and deliver the essential health and social care services our communities rely on every day.

‘The context within which this takes place is increasingly challenging, which is why COSLA have worked jointly with the Scottish Government to produce this plan.'

He added: ‘Winter is often a time of exceptional pressure on our services so I am pleased that this plan, produced with our partners across the sector, reflects the challenges and the opportunities we face.'