Mullingar hospital has 16 admitted patients waiting for a bed

There are 16 patients waiting on a bed in Mullingar Hospital today, Friday.

That’s the highest number in the Midlands according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), who say 12 people are on trolleys in Tullamore Hospital, while there is 1 in Portlaoise.

Nationally, today’s INMO Trolley Watch figures show 180 admitted patients are waiting for beds across the country this morning.

Of those, 152 are waiting in the emergency department, while 28 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital.

Five of the patients on trolleys are under the age of 16.

The highest number anywhere in the country is University Hospital Limerick, where there are 56 people waiting on trolleys.