More than 250 patients were waiting in overcrowded accident and emergency units in 10 hospitals across the State this morning, according to research done by the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO).
In a statement the organisation said as of 8 a.m. there were 42 people on trolleys or chairs in Tallaght Hospital A&E, 37 at Naas Hospital, 30 at the Mater Hospital, 28 patients at Beaumont and 28 at St James's Hospital.
The Midwest regional hospital had 33 people waiting while there were 18 patients awaiting admission to Cork University Hospital.
Mr Liam Doran, the INO General Secretary said the number of people forced to wait confirms overcrowding in A&E units has worsened over the last 2 years.
"The continuing reluctance of health service management, at all levels, to declare the situation a crisis warranting immediate additional funding and other measures is bewildering, unacceptable and insulting to the patients and staff who have to endure this overcrowding first hand," he said.
"The work environment is now so stressful that hospitals are reporting that staff are leaving A&E services thus worsening staff shortages still further," he said.
The INO is to meet Eastern Regional Health Authority management on Friday when they will seek a timescale for the reopening of 196 closed beds.
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