RTÉ News has learned that the Health and Safety Authority is to conduct safety inspections of 11 hospital Accident & Emergency units around the country.
The inspections will begin next week at Dublin's Beaumont, Mater and Connelly Memorial hospitals.
Inspections will also take place at eight other hospitals around Ireland.
They are: Naas General Hospital,Wexford General Hospital, Limerick Regional Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Sligo General Hospital, University College Hospital Galway, Clonmel Hospital and the Mercy Hospital in Cork.
Hospitals will be notified when the inspectors are to visit.
The Irish Nurses Organisation has meanwhile said today that 339 patients were on trolleys in A & E units awaiting admissions.
