395 patients are being treated on trolleys in hospitals across the country today - the highest figure since the pandemic began.
Cork University Hospital is the most overcrowded hospital, with 50 on trolleys, followed by 42 in University Hospital Limerick.
In the South-East there are 35 patients on trolleys, waiting for beds in three of the region's hospitals.
16 patients are waiting on beds in Wexford General Hospital, there's 15 in St Luke’s in Kilkenny while University Hospital Waterford has four patients in total on trolleys.
Seven of those waiting on beds in Kilkenny are outside of the Emergency Department.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says hospitals are at risk of becoming Covid hotspots, due to over-crowding and poor ventilation.
General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that “overcrowded hospitals can act as infection hotspots for COVID. Vaccination has made a massive difference, but there are still big dangers for frontline healthcare workers.
“They are being regularly exposed to the virus and our members have reported long-term impacts. We need maximum protection for frontline staff.
“We need to see proper audits of every healthcare workplace to ensure that ventilation meets a high standard. We have a huge amount of data on how this virus spreads – now it is time to act on it.”
