The story so far. .
November 2004: Minister for Health Mary Harney announces 10-point plan to deal with problems in A&E departments.
January 11th, 2005: 365 patients on trolleys in A&E departments, according to Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO). Letterkenny, Tallaght and Beaumont hospitals among worst affected.
March 2005: Eastern Regional Health Authority and the INO asked people to stay away from A&E departments in five Dublin hospitals because of overcrowding. Around 100 people were on trolleys across the capital city.
January 2006: Minister for Health asks the HSE to report on why A&E waiting figures appear so high following INO figures showing 422 on trolleys.
February 2006: The INO said that staff were unable to cope with 63 patients on trolleys in the A&E Department of Tallaght hospital, and another 12 in the day ward also awaiting beds.
Yesterday: 495 people waiting on trolleys for inpatient beds in A&E departments, according to the INO.