The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation claims almost 300 people are waiting for a bed at hospitals around the country today.

According to the latest trolley watch report, University Hospital Galway is the most overcrowded with 20 people on trolleys and 12 in overflow areas of wards.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore both have 24 patients in need of a bed.

The Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar has 23 people waiting, 13 on trolleys and 10 on the wards, while the Mater in Dublin has 22 people on its trolleys.