Hospital overcrowding levels in March 'the worst in over a decade'

Almost 9,000 patients were on trolleys at Irish hospitals around the country last month - the worst March figure in over a decade.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the figure of 8,934 confirms the extent of the growing crisis.

St Vincents Hospital in Dublin saw the biggest increase between March 2014 and March 2015 - at 237%.

That is followed by the Midlands Regional Hospital, which saw a 125% increase.

St James Hospital in Dublin (120%) is next, followed by the Mater and Beaumont in Dublin, at 105% and 88% increases respectively.

Speaking this morning, INMO General Secretary, Liam Doran said: "This is the ninth month in a row when the number of admitted patients left on trolleys, has increased when compared to previous years.

"This is confirmation that our health service continues to be too small to adequately, and safely, meet the demands being placed upon it.

"It is now imperative that the Minister immediately establishes the monitoring/implementation group to oversee the speedy delivery of all of the changes/initiatives contained in the Emergency Taskforce Report. Firm and sustained action is now required.

"The time for talking is over in the interests of patients and the frontline staff trying to care for them."