The aptly-named silly season puts pressure on emergency services as more people wind up sore and sorry.

Tamworth Hospital acting general manager Michelle Keir estimates presentations to ED increase by about five per cent on New Year's Eve and the next morning, when some people wake up with more than just a headache.

Usually it's in the early morning hours of New Year's Day that the rush begins.

"We see a bit of trauma on New Year's Day when people wake up quite sore and realise they have more seriously hurt their hands or feet, or had too much alcohol," Ms Keir said.

A review of safety in NSW public hospitals revealed "disturbing" incidents of rising aggression and violence toward doctors and nurses.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard tasked former police and health minister Peter Anderson to conduct a review into hospital security in November 2018.

The health services union has called for more security at the hospital after four incidents last week.

A paramedic was king hit in the unloading bay and a security officer broke his thumb restraining a violent patient. A cleaner was also assaulted by a mental health patient in the ED.

There's a heightened awareness of the potential for aggression and violence, more often from drug or alcohol-affected patients, Ms Keir said.

"All of our staff in the emergency department are well-trained in de-escalation to make sure they and patients are safe," she said.

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"We are mindful that alcohol can cause aggression in patients."

Thankfully, Christmas wasn't as bad as staff expected with a downturn in patient numbers, Ms Keir said.

"We were a little bit down in presentations to ED and I think that's because we had good plans in place for patients known to us in the community, with community services and respite helping us out," she said.

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