While the number nationally has fallen slightly there are still over 600 patients without a bed today.
According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation the overcrowding situation at University Hospital Limerick has increased dramatically overnight with 66 people being cared for on trolleys – up from 46 yesterday.
The situation at South Tipp General in Clonmel has also gotten worse with the INMO reporting 41 patients without a bed.
Health Minister Simon Harris who is due to meet with the HSE tomorrow about the situation says there's a review underway into the bed capacity in the Irish system, and if that shows it's not up to scratch, he'll deal with it.
The INMO have described overcrowded ED like the one at South Tipp General as 'chaotic, cruel and extremely difficult' for nurses and patients and it wants an immediate recruitment and retention programme to be put in place for nursing staff.
