Vanessa Thornton: Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Interim lead on Middlemore Hospital ED reaching 209 percent over capacity - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau is dispelling worry over Middlemore Hospital's crowded emergency department.

It yesterday treated more than 200 patients, and at one point over 70 people were waiting for beds.

But Hospital and Specialist Services interim lead Vanessa Thornton says that's not unusual.

"We've been very busy like this through the whole of winter, so this is not a new number for us. It's high, but it's not something that we can't manage."

Thornton says processes are in place to deal with high demand.

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