The Health Service Executive has issued a statement to say that 400 new beds will be made available in hospitals across the country before the end of this year.
The latest figures show that 439 people were left waiting on trolleys and wards in emergency departments nationwide, and with the winter weather approaching fast, the situation is bound to get much worse.
All told, 8,000 people were placed on trolleys during October, a totally unprecedented figure.
In a statement, National Director for Acute Hospitals with the HSE Liam Woods said: “We’re going to see over 400 beds come into place during this month and December.
“There are beds being added in Limerick, the Mercy Hospital in Cork, Letterkenny and 16 new beds in Tallaght, (among others).”