Health chiefs used to issue winter warnings about the strain on wards and waiting times caused by seasonal pressures.

But this year, the accident and emergency departments at hospitals in Brighton, Eastbourne and Worthing are at full stretch in the summer, when admissions should be lower.

There are also problems with wards from which patients cannot be discharged because of a shortage of nursing home places.

Other countries, such as France and Germany, seem to manage their health services without patients having to wait months for treatment or hours on trolleys once they arrive in hospitals.

Tony Blair says he is trying to tackle the problems of the NHS. He needs to look at hospitals in continental Europe to see whether our difficulties are caused by a lack of cash or a lack of competence.