Sixteen patients on trolleys at Portiuncula hospital this morning

Pressure on hospital places in the Midlands remains acute, with sixteen admitted patients waiting for beds at Portiuncula hospital in Ballinasloe this morning (Tuesday).

The figure was reported in the daily 'trolley watch' round-up issued by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

It said seven patients were awaiting beds in the emergency department in Ballinasloe, with nine on trolleys in wards elsewhere in the hospital.

At the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar there were six patients awaiting beds, all of whom were in its emergency department.

Nationally, 545 admitted patients were waiting for beds this morning, according to the INMO's trolley watch.

The largest number of patients on trolleys (90) was recorded at University Hospital Limerick, followed by Sligo University Hospital (55) and Cork University Hospital (45).