Issues at Auckland Hospital's emergency department are being described as symptoms of a bigger disease.

Ambulance workers stepped in to care for patients on Sunday and Monday because ED beds were not available.

Visitors say several dozen patients had been placed in a café on the same floor while they waited for treatment.

Chair of Australasian College for Emergency Medicine Kate Allan says it's evidence of a broken and under resourced system.

"It's worse than it's ever been, it's continued to accumulate over the summer months when generally we do go a little bit quieter. There's often a wee peak around Christmas/New Year and then it slows down again, but we haven't had that slow-down."