Almost 400 people are on trolleys and in overflow wards in hospitals today, according to nurses.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says 43 people are waiting on a bed at University Hospital Limerick, while there are 38 patients waiting at Cork University Hospital.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and University Hospital Galway both have 27 people waiting.

In all, 381 people are waiting on a hospital bed today, 290 on trolleys in Emergency Departments and 91 in overflow areas of wards.

It comes as the HSE announced a plan to add 55 acute beds in five hospitals in their Winter Initiative.