Hospitals across the country have reached crisis point, with some emergency departments reaching capacity.
People are being treated in corridors, increasing numbers of staff are reporting burn out and wait times are becoming longer.
In the past 48 hours, Dunedin Hospital and Whangarei Hospital have reached capacity, asking people to keep ED for emergencies only.
Now, medical practitioners around the country say it is a nationwide problem and without support, it is only going to get worse.
Tess Brunton has more.
