683 patients on trolleys in predictable bank holiday trolley surge

683 admitted patients are waiting for a hospital bed this morning according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. 
 
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: 

We are once again seeing another predictable post-bank holiday trolley surge in hospitals around the country this morning. 
 
“The level of overcrowding across hospital sites is incredibly dangerous. These types of post-bank holiday surges are not new. There is no point in the HSE issuing statements describing how bad the problem is, they should have been taking preventative measures in the week leading up to the bank holiday to ensure that we didn’t find ourselves in the position we are in today.
 
“The HSE must outline what steps it is taking to alleviate the pressure in our hospitals over the in the immediate and short-term, and for the St.Patrick’s Day and Easter bank holidays which will happen in quick succession. 
 
“It is clear that the system is now completely overwhelmed. We need targeted measures to tackle this crisis, particularly in the Midwest where overcrowding is completely out of hand.