A&E crisis on-going: INO figures

Hundreds of patients are still being forced to wait on trolleys in Ireland's accident and emergency departments, according to figures published by the Irish Nurses Organisation today.

The INO said 246 people were waiting in A&E units this morning for admittance to a proper hospital bed.

It said the worst of the overcrowding was in Wexford General Hospital, where 35 patients were lying on trolleys.

The INO has been complaining for years about the overcrowding problem.

Health Minister Mary Harney announced a package of measures to address the situation last year, but the INO says they have so far failed to alleviate the crisis.