Otago District Health Board operations manager Megan Boivin said that was part of the agreement with the Public Service Association that cover would be provided if a triage one or two patient (the most urgent cases) arrived.
Mrs Boivin, who was stationed in the emergency department during the hour-long stoppage by clerical and administration staff, said the system had worked smoothly.
The workers' next action is on Monday between 8.30am and 9.30am, but Mrs Boivin was not expecting this to cause difficulties.
It was not usually a busy time in ED.
In other out-patient areas, people were being asked to "be patient" during that hour, she said.
Between 80 and 100 staff spent much of the hour stationed outside the main entrance of the hospital, chanting and encouraging passing motorists to show their support.
They also marched around the block.
PSA Otago organiser Julie Morton said the staff had been well supported by fellow unions and some New Zealand Nursing Organisation members were at yesterday's rally.
Ms Morton said the fact one member was called back to ED showed the work members provided was part of front-line services and not all "back room" work.
The action is part of a South Island-wide protest against the lack of progress on improving the workers' pay. In contrast to their North Island counterparts, staff have not received any increases for more than three years.
The union says South Island workers' pay starts at $27,641, close to the minimum wage, compared with $30,500 for similar North Island workers.
