The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, (INMO) has called for the emergency department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda be taken off-call for a period of up to 48 hours to relieve current severe pressure on its services.

The INMO says the ED is 'dangerously overcrowded' with patients lying head to toe on trolleys in corridors.

A total of 55 patients were awaiting an in-patient bed at the Drogheda hospital yesterday, resulting in 'inhumane and degrading conditions' for both patients and staff, the INMO said.

There are currently 29 clinically discharged patients in the hospital who cannot be discharged due to the unavailability of community beds or service, the union added.

"The INMO is calling for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital to be taken off call immediately", said Tony Fitzpatrick, INMO Industrial Relations Officer.

"All ambulances should be diverted for a 48-hour period in order to treat patients already admitted to the hospital. We are also calling for an immediate cap to be placed on the number of patients who can be looked after within the ED including the number of patients on trolleys."

Mr Fitzpatrick claimed a key difficulty was the inability of hospital management to ensure that there are appropriately qualified ED nurses available to care for patients, and as a result, patient safety and staff health and well-being were being compromised.