More than 500 hospital patients are waiting on trolleys around the country, that is over 100 more than yesterday.
The figures from The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), show the situation is worst at University Hospital Limerick, where 47 people have been admitted, but have not been given beds.
The INMO also says St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin was not in a position to provide details for today's report, so the true figure might even be higher.
The union is currently balloting its members on new proposals to reduce overcrowding in Emergency Departments and cut waiting times.
Last week, Liam Doran, General Secretary of the INMO stated that the cancellation of planned surgeries as part of a new plan to deal with overcrowding is an inevitable consequence of years of neglect in the health service.
INMO Trolley/Ward Watch 19/01/16 522 Patients 431 on trolleys 91 on wards https://t.co/Upg3cgqmGA #trolleywatch pic.twitter.com/KzEQMoF1ik
— INMO_IRL (@INMO_IRL) January 19, 2016
