The number of people waiting on trolleys at hospitals across Ireland jumped by 2% during 2013, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
The group says 67,863 patients waited for admission to a hospital bed last year compared with 66,308 the previous year.
Over 57,200 patients spent time on trolleys in emergency departments across the country. While a further 10,577 sick people spent time on trolleys, chairs and beds above the required levels.
The INMO says Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, Sligo and the Mater Hospital in Dublin all showed improvements.
However Beaumont, Connolly, St. James's and Tallaght Hospitals in Dublin, the Mercy Hospital Cork, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, Mullingar and Portlaoise Hospitals in the Midlands - as well as Navan, South Tipperary, St. Luke's, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford hospitals - all showed an increase in numbers waiting for a bed.
Meanwhile protests having been taking place outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after a major incident was declared in its A&E department. Extra staff were called in last night to deal with a large backlog of patients.
Unions say closures of A&E services at other hospitals are to blame.
The chief executive of the Belfast Health Trust, Colm Donaghy, says it was under severe pressure the past two nights.
