Over 631 patients are on trolleys in Irish hospitals today according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

 INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said today that the HSE must direct hospitals to cancel electives and concentrate on the de-escalation of trolleys from understaffed and overburdened wards.

 She insists that the provision of safe care must be the priority.

 There are 56 patients on trolleys waiting for admission to Galway University Hospital today. That’s the third highest number nationally, according to the latest INMO Trolley Watch Figures.

There are 28 patients on trolleys waiting for beds at Mayo University Hospital , 26 patients on trolleys at Sligo University Hospital and 12 at Portiuncula University Hospital.

Limerick University Hospital again today has the highest number of patients on trolleys waiting for beds, at 93.