A spike in winter illnesses saw visits to Hawke's Bay Hospital's Emergency Department surge at the weekend.
Chief medical officer John Gommans said there had been a big increase in people presenting to the Emergency Department with respiratory illnesses like asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis on Saturday and Sunday.
"We really want to encourage people if they are feeling sick to get to their family doctor or medical centre before their symptoms get worse. Early treatment, particularly in children and older people, can prevent the need for hospital," Mr Gommans said.
He said older people living on their own often found it hard to get to a doctor, so neighbours, family and friends needed to be aware and check in on older people. "Even making sure they were eating and drinking well, made a big difference to not needing an emergency department visit or having to be admitted to hospital."
Dr Gommans said it was important not to visit anyone in hospital if you were sick. "Patients in hospital are much more vulnerable to picking up other people's bugs so we ask everyone not to visit if you are unwell."