Tallaght Hospital is warning of longer patient waiting times in its emergency department today.

The hospital says it is experiencing a 'very high' number of emergency attendances.

Hospital management is calling on the public to visit their GP wherever possible before attending the hospital.

A statement from the hospital says: "ED patients are prioritised according to clinical need, which may result in patients with minor illnesses or injuries experiencing delays."

The latest figures from the INMO show there were 42 patients on trolleys in Tallaght, with an additional 15 patients waiting for a bed in wards.

The number of patients waiting on a bed in Irish hospitals again passed 600 yesterday. The national figures have reduced to 517 today.