Several patients at the Canberra Hospital Emergency Department have been treated in corridors this month as staff grapple with unprecedented demand and bed shortages.

ACT Health Minister Simon Corbell has confirmed the hospital was forced to operate under Code Yellow status several times during March.

"Certainly we have been running at or over 90 per cent at particular points in time over the last couple of weeks," he said.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) recommends that hospitals run at an 85 per cent bed occupancy rate for efficient and safe practice.

As a result of the latest revelations about Canberra Hospital's capacity, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation secretary Jenny Miragaya said the association held fears for patient and staff safety.

On one day this month 27 patients were waiting in the Emergency Department to be admitted.

Ms Miragaya said eight of those were being treated on beds in corridors.

"It is not good practice to be nursing patients in the corridor. The lack of privacy the lack of work health safety opportunities," she said.

"I'm very concerned about the safety of the patients and also the safety of the staff."

She said the Government needs to take more action to tackle the situation.

"They are still, going to Code Yellow which is an internal disaster," Ms Miragaya said.

"This is what we're dealing with. We haven't reached winter which means we will have historically an increased number of presentations."

Patient safety not compromised: Minister

Health Minister Simon Corbell said there was no evidence that patient safety was being compromised.

"I have no doubt that our medical and nursing staff are providing a very high quality of care," he said.

Work is due to start on an expansion of the Emergency Department within the next two months.

But Mr Corbell said the 21 new beds would not be available for at least a year.

"It's a complex project because we have to do it whilst keeping the Emergency Department operating," he said.

The Government is considering a new overcapacity protocol for the hospital.

The draft plan involves fast tracking the discharge process for patients on wards to make way for emergency admissions.

The nursing federation has claimed the Government's plans to accommodate the "least sick" patients in beds along corridors.

Mr Corbell said the draft protocol had not been finalised.