325 patients waiting on trolleys in A&E units today

A total of 325 patients were waiting on trolleys in accident and emergency departments throughout Ireland this morning, according the Irish Nurses Organisation.

The INO said 185 of these patients were in the Dublin region, with Tallaght hospital alone treating 63 people in it’s a&E unit due to a lack of available hospital beds.

The figures were released to coincide with a planned half-hour protest this lunchtime by nurses at Dublin’s Mater Hospital, Cork University Hospital and Roscommon General Hospital.

The protests are part of a series of lunchtime demonstrations planned for selected hospitals every Tuesday and Thursday for the rest of this month.

The actions were arranged to highlight growing anger over the ongoing problem of A&E overcrowding and the Government’s failure to address the matter.

The INO and SIPTU, who both represent Irish nurses, have urged the public to support the protests, while ICTU has also urged all its affiliate unions to allow their members to take part.

Meanwhile, Labour Party TD Liz McManus has said the Government must take effective action rather than making what appear to be empty promises.

Health Minister Mary Harney announced a 10-point plan to deal with the crisis late last year, but it has so far failed to make any difference on the ground.

"It's not good enough for us to see hundreds of people on trolleys in out A&E department six months after the minister made a solemn undertaking that this problem would be solved," Ms McManus said.

"The minister is continuing to make promises instead of delivering."