‘Dozensof beds’ to be opened

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said “dozens of extra beds” will be opened in the coming weeks to deal with hospital overcrowding.

Yesterday, there were 522 people on trolleys in emergency departments (427) and wards (95), according to the trolley watch published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

The trolley count reached a record high of 601 on Tuesday, January 6, falling to 371 a few days later. The numbers then fluctuated before climbing to 522.