663 patients are without beds in Irish hospitals today according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
This is an increase of the 655 patients that were reported waiting for beds on Monday.
The hospital with the most patients waiting for a bed is University Hospital Limerick, with 96 patients on trolleys.
As a result, day surgeries have been cancelled at Ennis hospital in order to accommodate the overflow at UHL.
The ULHG urged non-urgent patients “to consider all available healthcare options to avoid long waits for assessment”, as issues at the hospital have persisted for several weeks.
Cork University Hospital has 80 patients waiting on beds, with University Hospital Galway having 62 patients on trolleys.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said she is worried by the recent spike in patients on trolleys, and has called for the HSE to carry out more inspections.
“Today’s figures represent a worrying spike in hospital overcrowding with over 663 patients on trolleys today.
“Our members are once again expressing serious concerns about their ability to provide safe care to all who need it in our hospitals.
“While we are continuing to present issues to the HSE and the Health and Safety Authority at both national and local level. In addition, HIQA and the HSA must carry out more unplanned inspections across overcrowded emergency departments and wards.
“This is an intolerable situation for vulnerable patients and frontline workers alike. Nobody should have to endure this in a modern health service.”
