Almost 36,000 people have had to wait for a hospital bed so far this year, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
The organisation says the number of people on trolleys is still rising, with the statistics for the first four months of this year showing a 2% increase on 2015 numbers.
In April alone, 8,145 patients spent time on trolleys waiting for a bed.
The INMO is holding their annual conference in Killarney today, and are calling for more investment in the health service.
Low pay and overcrowding are two of the key issues on the agenda, as well as the aftermath of the Government talks.
INMO General Secretary Liam Doran says the new Government needs to step out of the political circle and make serious improvements.
He says that until issues "are taken out of the political arena and made a matter of common good, then the health service will remain in crisis".
