A total of 344 people are waiting on a bed at hospitals across the country.

Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) show 256 people are on trolleys, while a further 88 are in overflow areas of wards.

According to the latest trolley watch report, University Hospital Limerick is the most overcrowded with 42 people in need of a bed.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda is next with 31 people on trolleys and overflow areas of wards.

Dublin's Tallaght Hospital has 28 people waiting, while Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar stands at 20.

Overall this is a decrease on figures six days ago, which saw 381 people waiting for admission to a hospital bed.