Almost 93,000 patients were left waiting on trolleys last year, an increase of 21% when compared with 2014, new figures have shown.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), its ‘Trolley Watch' figures show that almost 93,000 patients were left waiting on trolleys in Irish hospitals nationwide during 2015, compared to 77,000 the year before.

However, it is not all bad news. The number of patients waiting on trolleys in December 2015 fell by 13% when compared with December 2014.

Speaking about the figures, INMO general secretary, Liam Doran, said that while the December reduction was to be welcomed, the overall increase in figures for 2015 was ‘very disappointing. He also noted that the beginning of 2016 ‘shows no sign of the crisis abating'.

The publication of these figures follows the recent introduction of a strengthened escalation policy, which are protocols that come into effect in times of crisis, e.g. severe overcrowding.

"It is now absolutely vital that the HSE immediately commits to fully operating the revised policy. Its priority must be to reduce overcrowding and ensure that nurses can practice safely within a manageable working environment so that we never see these figures again," Mr Doran commented.

He added that the longer-term solution to solving the ED crisis involves the Government providing ‘proper funding to reverse the severe cuts over the past number of years and prepare for the future needs of our sick and vulnerable'.