Patients are dying as a result of overcrowding in our hospitals.

That is according to the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine.

The association says 1.2 million people attend Emergency Departments each year, with 443 patients currently waiting on trolleys in hospitals across the country.

Communications Officer with the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine Dr Fergal Hickey says this scandal has to end:

"Irrespective of what government comes into power after the election they have to address this issue, because unfortunately patients are dying as a result of emergency department overcrowding, and it is a scandal that has to end."