Cancellation of surgeries and appointments in Munster could last weeks

HSE figures for Wednesday showed seven over 75s waiting longer than 24 hours among 130 patients on a trolley or surge bed. 

Cancellation of surgeries and appointments could last weeks at five hospitals in Limerick, Clare, and north Tipperary as concern grows over safety.

It comes as national hospital waiting list figures show more people waiting for their first appointment now than in June, with doctors predicting the Munster cancellations will add to this.