No sign of improvements in hospitals as over 100,000 go without a bed this year

On disability services, Mr Donnelly said a 'significant additional number' of healthcare professionals need to be hired, and that there were 'several hundred' sanctioned posts yet to be filled. Picture: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has admitted there are ‘unacceptable’ shortcomings in the health service, with more than 100,000 patients forced to wait without a bed in hospitals so far this year.

Despite an exceptionally mild autumn and a record budget of €23bn, hospitals all over the country are under intense pressure, with patients regularly waiting 24 hours to be seen by a doctor.