There's a record number of patients on trolleys at hospitals across the country - at 656.
148 of patients are here in the South East's hospitals.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the previous highest level of overcrowding was 612 on the 3rd of January last year.
St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny is the worst affected with 57 people waiting on a bed - followed by University Hospital Limerick on 55.
General Secretary of the INMO Phil Ni Sheaghdha says drastic action is needed and "it's a combination of not having enough beds, not having enough staff, therefore some beds are closed and not having enough Step Down Units in the community.
And obviously the problem we have with our primary care and it's under development."
IMAGE - File photo.
