Calls for people to only go to the emergency department in an emergency.
Three-hundred and fifty-nine patients were treated at Christchurch Hospital on Sunday, a record number for a single day where a large-scale emergency hadn't occurred.
That is one patient every four minutes.
The influx followed a record-breaking week of patients presenting to the hospital.
Clinical Director, Dr David Richards, said only people with urgent and serious medical conditions should come to the ED as the busy department moves to the new Waipapa building.
"It would be incredibly helpful if people make use of their own GP team or go to one of Christchurch's three urgent care centres. This will enable staff to focus on only those who really need emergency care and carry out a safe and successful move."
The ED will be based on Waipapa's ground floor from tomorrow
The first relocation of patients from existing wards at Christchurch Hospital over to the Waipapa building took place yesterday.
The new emergency department will be open on the ground floor of the building at 7.30am on Wednesday.
A number of other wards and departments will also be making the move to Waipapa over the next two weeks including ICU and the children's wards.
Approximately 24 patients made the journey to the new building yesterday, with the radiology services now fully operational.
Oncology patient on the move to Waipapa. Photo / Supplied
Canterbury DHB director of nursing Lynne Johnson said it was an exciting day for both patients and staff making the move to brand new facilities.
"The relocation of wards to a new facility is a huge undertaking and our teams have been so impressed by the commitment of our staff, the effort that has gone in to planning these moves and the support from all over the health system to enable a smooth transition.
"With further moves ahead of us over the next couple of weeks, we will be able to apply our learnings from this move," Johnson said.
The move from the existing wards takes patients on a 8-10 minute journey from the existing wards of Christchurch Hospital, through the new "linkway" and on to Waipapa.
Haematology on the move. Photo / Supplied
Haematology charge nurse manager Sally Braycotton, who was a key part of the ward's relocation to Waipapa, said it was quite a task to move sometimes quite unwell patients from one hospital building to the other.
"We have a complex mix of patients in Haematology and there has been a substantial amount of planning to execute the moves and safely transport our patients to Waipapa.
"What makes it all worth it is the smiles we saw on the patients' faces today as they are whisked away from the existing Christchurch Hospital to the brand new sparkling wards of Waipapa," she said.
