Tauranga Hospital is currently dealing with high patient numbers and reminding people to keep its emergency department for emergencies.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief operations officer Helen Mason said Tauranga Hospital was very busy at the moment.
"It's timely to remind people to seek other avenues for non-urgent cases. Keep the ED for emergencies," she said.
Emergency department clinical director Dr Derek Sage said people attending with minor injuries, such as sprains, could anticipate lengthier waits at the moment.
"Anyone attending the ED with these types of injuries, and minor ailments, is likely to be faced with significant waits currently as treatment is based on a triage system according to need, with the more urgent cases being seen first."