A plea to the public to bear with hospitals under unprecedented strain

A doctor at South Auckland's Middlemore Hospital has leaked emails - showing its emergency department is facing 'code red' level demand.

The ED saw more than 420 patients for the second night in a row this week, up from an average of about 300.

The unnamed doctor says the Health Minister must acknowledge the crisis.

But Minister Andrew Little says he hasn't seen any data showing hospitals are reaching record levels of delays.

Specialist emergency care physician John Bonning says Middlemore's recently seen it's biggest day ever.

He says people need to be aware that if they come to hospital - they may need to wait a long time - but staff are trying their best.