Opposition parties demand statement from Varadkar on overcrowding crisis

Opposition parties are demanding a statement from the Minister for Health as hospital overcrowding hits a new record.

601 people are lying on trolleys or sitting in chairs awaiting admission to hospitals across the country today.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says it fears a 'major incident' will occur because of the crisis and its holding ballots for industrial action at ED units.

Leo Varadkar is not in the country at present, with the Dáil not set to resume until next week. However, his political opponents are calling for a statement of intent from the Minister.

Fianna Fail's Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher says Leo Varadkar needs to prove his claim that he is a "hands-on" Minister:

"Clearly, the staff are under huge pressure - the HSE have now said themselves that patient safety is compromised … the Government has to respond to that.

"It's time for the Minister to act, and we would like to hear a statement from him on what he intends to do."

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said there were more than 80 people on trolleys in Drogheda's Our Lady of Lourdes hospital.

“The Minister for Health appears to be AWOL. This is unacceptable. Minister Varadkar needs to surface and to address this developing crisis with urgency," Adams said.

Meanwhile, a consultant in emergency medicine says the Government has no plan to deal with the current hospital admissions crisis.

There are calls for the Dáil to return from its break to deal with the overcrowding, in addition to a statement from the Health Minister.

Consultant at Sligo Regional Hospital, Dr Fergal Hickey says comments by the Jobs Minister earlier that the coalition was dealing with the issue are a cause for concern:

"The first recorded case of a patient remaining overnight in an emergency department took place on the 8th of October, 1997.

"This is a problem which has got worse and worse and worse - and all we've had is politicians and health service managers claiming improvements in the absence of improvement."

A statement from the Department of Health this evening said the Minister is due back at his desk tomorrow but has kept in close contact, including having regular discussions with senior HSE management.