Auckland City Hospital's emergency department isn't the only one experiencing unprecedented demand this year.
Auckland District Health Board has sent a memo to staff, acknowledging the ED had a very busy summer, and remains extremely busy for this time of year.
READ MORE:Â Auckland City Hospital struggling to cope as patients flood into emergency department
Waikato Hospital emergency department clinical director Dr John Bonning said they had 238 patients on Monday, their busiest day on record.
"There were a lot of very very sick people, a lot of elderly people, children, people with quite significant illness and injuries that make up these numbers."
Dr Bonning said patients can face wait times of up to eight hours during busy periods, and shouldn't go to the ED if it's not an emergency.
The department has recently appointed five extra full-time doctors, and has been given approval to hire another five doctors and more nurses as well.
Dr Bonning said the department is also changing rosters and getting help from other departments.
"We're pretty good at predicting what we're going to need and try to roster accordingly and we require the whole of the organisation to flex up as well."
The emergency departments at Hawke's Bay Hospital and Auckland City Hospital are also facing increased demand.
Hawke's Bay Hospital's emergency department is experiencing its busiest year to date, and recorded its busiest ever day last month.
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