The number of patients waiting on a bed in Irish hospitals has again passed 600.
According to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), 601 patients were on a trolley in emergency departments or waiting for a bed in wards.
University Hospital Limerick is the most overcrowded with 48 people waiting on a bed, while the number is also above 40 in Cork University Hospital and Tallaght Hospital.
The number of patients on trolleys reached record numbers at the beginning of January, with 612 patients waiting on a bed on January 3rd.
Today's figures are the highest recorded since January 4th. 536 patients were waiting for a bed yesterday.
The crisis last month prompted the HSE to announce several measures to alleviate overcrowding, including opening additional beds.