Almost 9,000 patients were left waiting on trolleys in hospitals last month - the worst March figures seen in over 10 years.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), 8,934 patients were left waiting on trolleys after being admitted to hospitals last month, compared to 6,493 during the same period last year, and 4,941 in March 2007.

The worst hit hospitals in March of this year were Dublin's Beaumont Hospital (643 patients on trolleys), University Hospital Galway (634), St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin (599), the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar (562) and University Hospital Limerick (558).

When compared with March 2014, most hospitals had higher trolley figures this year, and some hospitals recorded extremely high increases including:
-St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, which had 599 patients in March 2015 compared to 178 in March 2014 - a 237% increase
-The Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar, which had 562 in 2015 compared to 250 in 2014 - a 125% increase
-St James's Hospital in Dublin, which had 335 in 2015 compared to 152 in 2014 - a 120% increase.

Meanwhile, the INMO also highlighted that ‘contrary to best practice and previous HSE commitments', most hospitals are continuing to place extra trolleys on inpatient wards.

In fact, in March of this year, a total of 1,814 trolleys were placed on wards, with the worst offenders being Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown in Dublin (220 trolleys on wards), the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar (215) and Tallaght Hospital in Dublin (208).

"This is the 9th month in a row when the number of admitted patients left on trolleys has increased when compared to previous years. This is confirmation that our health service continues to be too small to adequately and safely meet the demands being placed upon it," commented INMO general secretary, Liam Doran.

The organisation called for immediate action by the Government, including the opening of closed acute hospital beds and the hiring of additional staff.