Nurses are appleaing to members of the public and patient organisations to join with them in a protest about hospital overcrowding outside the Dáil.

The protest has been organised by the Irish Nurses and Midwives organisation (INMO) and is supported by a number of other trade unions, including SIPTU. It will take place on Wednesday (January 14) at midday.

"We are hoping that members of the public, patient groups and workers in the city centre will give up some of their lunch break to show their disgust at chronic overcrowding in EDs (Emergency Departments), which last week reached a record high of 601," said INMO deputy general secretary, Dave Hughes.

He insisted that chronic overcrowding in EDs is ‘now an annual event' because successive governments have ‘failed to adequately fund the health service'.

"We hope that hundreds will turn out at the protest and join with us in demanding an end to hospital overcrowding," Mr Hughes added.

The protest will take place outside the Kildare entrance of the Dáil.