The Health Ministry maintains it recognises elderly Kiwis' vulnerability - and their specific requirements for hospital care

That's despite figures from January showing more than 150 patients aged 80 or older were discharged between one and 8am.

A Ministry spokesperson says it can be in an elderly patient's interest to avoid leaving their normal environment longer than necessary.

But they say DHBs do not encourage an overnight discharge if they're going home alone.

The Ministry expects DHBs to reflect on any concerns raised - and frequently review processes around vulnerable patients.

In January, more than 106 thousand people presented at emergency departments across all 20 DHBs.