Moves to provide more care in the community in Canterbury are being credited with averting gridlock at Christchurch hospital so far this winter.
The hospital was left with 35 fewer beds overall after the February quake destroyed some wards.
It is close to full, but general admissions are down by 5%.
Doctors say the loss of up to 6,000 people from the district may have played a role, but much of the reduced pressure on the hospital is down to programmes designed to support patients at home where possible.
High vaccination rates against flu are also helping, but Canterbury District Health Board says the system remains very fragile.
