Exeter's RD&E hospital has put plans in place to avoid a repeat of last winter's 'black alert', during the busiest period of the season.
The hospital had to cancel more than 500 operations earlier this year because of a shortage of beds, caused by a steep increase in emergency admissions and delays in discharging patients.
It took until May to clear the backlog.
A similar rise in demand is expected this winter but the hospital says its aim is for no planned admissions to be cancelled this time.
It's making an extra 58 beds available on its own site and in community hospitals, recruiting more staff, and working with other organisations to try and keep people out of hospital if there's an alternative.
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