Irish hospitals are seeing the highest number of people on trolleys since COVID-19 restrictions were introduced in March.
221 people around the country are waiting for beds, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
The union says overcrowding and coronavirus make for a "toxic combination".
The worst affected are Cork University Hospital with 50 patients on trolleys, followed by 41 in University Hospital Limerick.
25 patients are on trolleys in the Midland Regional Hospital, 22 in Mayo University Hospital, 14 in Sligo University Hospital and 13 in Crumlin children’s hospital.
The INMO warned that the high numbers increased the risk of infection, and endangering staff and patients alike.
INMO Industrial Relations Officer for Cork University Hospital, Liam Conway, said:“COVID and overcrowding make for a toxic combination. This is a deadly virus and our frontline members are rightly worried for their safety and that of their patients.
"Infection control is necessarily compromised in a hospital with patients in corridors and on trolleys.
“The HSE assured us that there would be no tolerance of overcrowding during COVID. Yet no actions have been taken and we are sleepwalking back to mass overcrowding.
He added: “It is time for direct government intervention, especially ahead of the annual winter surge.”
