Over 7,900 hospital patients were left waiting on trolleys or chairs last month, with one hospital alone almost reaching the 1,000 figure during this period.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), this is the worst August on record for hospital overcrowding.

Its latest ‘Trolley Watch' figures show that 7,911 admitted patients were left waiting on trolleys and chairs last month, an increase of 2% when compared to the same period last year, and an increase of 102% compared to five years ago when 3,913 people were on trolleys.

The figures include 30 children.

The hospitals with the highest figures were University Hospital Limerick (969), University Hospital Galway (619), Cork University Hospital (604) and University Hospital Waterford (435).

Commenting on the figures, INMO general secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said that ‘the message from the frontline is clear - this all comes down to pay'.

"The HSE simply cannot find enough nurses and midwives to work on these wages. It's no coincidence that Limerick has had such a bad month, as they have over 70 unfilled nursing vacancies.

"Unless nurses and midwives get pay equality with similarly qualified health professionals, vacancies will remain open and things will only get worse," she insisted.

The INMO is set to meet with the HSE and Department of Health at the Workplace Relations Commission next week to discuss overcrowding and understaffing. The organisation is asking the HSE to present plans on how it intends to deal with these issues during the upcoming winter period.