Health officials are worried that hospital emergency departments could once again be clogged with patients who should not be there.
Waikato District Health Board says about 25% of casualty patients last summer should have gone to their doctor for matters like getting prescriptions re-issued.
While most general practices close for the holiday season, an after-hours clinic for each area is open and the board said that is where patients should go or they could ring Healthline.
The board said going to an emergency department should only be for genuine emergencies.
