High demand is continuing to place pressure on Christchurch Hospital's overrun emergency department

Health officials are warning anyone presenting with a non-urgent condition will be in for a long wait.

Canterbury DHB's chief medical officer Helen Skinner says yesterday there were 527 patients at the hospital , with more than 100 under assessment and treatment in the emergency department.

She says if it's not urgent- patients need to call their general practice team or afterhours clinic.