Nurses have warned that the trolley crisis is not over, with 500 patients waiting on Tuesday morning for an inpatient hospital bed.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), 342 patients are currently waiting on trolleys in Emergency Departments nationwide, 158 have been inappropriately placed on already full wards, and three children are waiting for beds in Temple Street Children's Hospital.

The highest number of patients waiting for an inpatient hospital bed can be found in University Hospital Limerick (66), followed by St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny (42), University Hospital Galway (41) and Naas General Hospital (35).

The worst-hit Dublin hospital is Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown (22).

"As predicted, the trolley figures are on the rise again following the bank holiday weekend. Hospitals are still in crisis and we are now calling on the HSE to continue curtailment of services to ensure figures do not escalate again this week and to allow hospitals deal with the current high numbers," commented INMO general secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha,