Number of people on trolleys hits third-highest figure of the year 

The INMO also said a total of 16 children were waiting for a bed at the three country's main children's hospitals. File picture

Almost 700 people are waiting on trolleys at hospitals across the country, according to new figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

Some 667 admitted patients are waiting on beds, with Monday's total being the third-highest of the year so far.

This year's highest total was recorded on Wednesday, February 7, when 710 patients had no bed in hospitals around the country. The second-highest figure was recorded the day before, Tuesday, February 6, when 683 patients were waiting on trolleys.

Monday saw 492 patients waiting in emergency departments and 175 waiting on trolleys on other hospital wards.

As of 8am, the worst-affected hospital was University Hospital Limerick (UHL), where 80 patients were waiting on a bed.

At Cork University Hospital (CUH), 73 patients were waiting on trolleys.

Fifty two patients were also without a bed at the emergency department of University Hospital Galway, and 39 were waiting at St James' Hospital in Dublin. 

The INMO also said a total of 16 children were waiting for a bed at the three country's main children's hospitals. 

Just one hospital in the country — Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore — did not have a single admitted patient waiting for a bed on Monday morning.