406 patients waiting for admission to hospital bed

The HSE says there are 406 patients waiting in hospital emergency departments for admission to a hospital bed today, excluding the children's hospitals.

The number is up 54% on the same day last year, according to its TrolleyGar data, collected at 8am.

The hospitals worst affected are Galway University Hospital with 37 patients waiting; St Vincent's with 33 patients waiting and Cork University Hospital and Tallaght Hospital, each with 24 patients waiting.