After months of unprecedented patient numbers, emergency department visits have started to decline as the territory's hospitals enter a traditionally quieter time of year.

Last month, Canberra Hospital emergency department saw its busiest day ever with a record 254 presentations on October 26 - two more than the 2003 bushfire.

"Emergency departments remain very busy, both of Canberra's emergency departments," Canberra Hospital emergency department clinical director Dr Michael Hall said on Monday.

"We're still growing at a fast rate (and) continuing to grow faster than the CPI for Canberra."

Dr Hall said October and November were not typically the busiest time of the year for the territory's hospitals, but August and September had been "incredibly busy".

"Since then, our numbers have been less, but are still significantly up on the year before," he said.

"We've had a couple of quieter months and we'll probably be quieter again until March or so."

Dr Hall said thereason for the high level of ED demand was still not known.

"I hope (Canberrans) love it (the emergency department) because they know they're going to get excellent care is what I'd hope," he said.

"It's incredibly complex. I don't believe there is a single answer.

"The answer is a combination of the service that we provide - the availability and trust that Canberrans have in the emergency department."

But Dr Hall said it was important for the public to knew there were healthcare options other than the emergency department available.

"It's really important that we continue to promote the role of general practice, after-hours medical services and the walk-in centres so people are aware that there are alternatives. But we are always there for anybody who needs us and if people aren't able to access those alternatives for whatever reason, whether it's financial, transport, just lack of appointments," he said.