KEY POINTS:
A Christmas crunch has hit Waikato Hospital.
The emergency department is under strain because of a series of road smashes and other trauma cases.
It was already handling a heavy case load, because a lot of doctors' surgeries have closed for the holiday period, and some hospital staff are taking leave.
Officials say keeping the emergency department, for real emergencies only, is now a priority.
More than 300 people are expected to be at the hospital as in-patients on Christmas Day.
- NEWSTALK ZB
