Medical specialists say it's time to spread the load between DHB's as hospital departments hit full capacity

Dunedin and Whangarei hospitals went into Code Black this week, asking the public to seek alternative care, or only come in if it was an emergency.

Health minister Andrew Little says a reform will be announced next month, with plans for DHB's to be able to pool their resources if one hospital has a backlog.

Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive Sarah Dalton says it makes sense in urban areas.

She says people living in Porirua could go to the hospital in Lower Hutt, rather than Kenepuru or Wellington Hospital.