An increase in patients presenting to emergency departments - including some who were "very unwell" - has meant a busy second 24 hours of the junior doctors strike.
Rotorua and Taupo hospitals emergency departments were busy in the second 24 hours of the strike, but Lakes District Health Board chief operations officer Nick Saville-Wood said there had been no reported issues.
Junior doctors will return to work at 8am tomorrow following the 73 hour strike which started on Tuesday morning.
Nearly two thirds of Rotorua Hospital's 81 junior doctors were striking.
Mr Saville-Wood said there were 87 presentations to Rotorua Hospital's emergency department on Wednesday, the second day of the strike.
"A number of the people who came to the emergency departments were very unwell and should have been there to receive treatment.
"However, there are still a number of people who went to the emergency department with minor problems that could have been seen by their family doctor or at Lakes PrimeCare."
Mr Saville-Wood said both hospitals coped well with the increase and the high acuity, and there were no issues reported.
He said the health board was grateful to staff especially senior nurses, doctors and clinical staff who took on extra duties and made it possible for the hospitals to continue to provide safe care.
During the strike period, the hospital focuses on ensuring the continuing provision of essential emergency services including acute surgery, emergency department care, intensive care and maternity care.