The Health Service Executive has said that compared to last year, there has been an average 8.7% increase in the overall number of people attending emergency departments.
Following the Emergency Department Task Force Implementation Group meeting today, the executive said that despite this increase, the number of patients waiting on trolleys for admission to hospital is down by 2.2%, compared to last year.
The HSE said the numbers would have been much higher, if it had not been for the significant efforts in recent months on winter planning.
It said there had also been a surge in attendances, especially in the older population, which have been affected by rising levels of influenza.
There has also been a rise generally in patients with respiratory or flu-like symptoms.
Earlier, the IMNO said hospital overcrowding is on the rise again with 511 patients waiting on trolleys or on wards, waiting for admission to a bed.
The hospital worst affected is St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin which has 48 patients waiting.
Other hospitals facing significant overcrowding are Cork University Hospital with 43 patients, Midland Regional Tullamore with 29 patients and the Midland Regional Mullingar with 32 patients waiting.
The overall overcrowding figures are up on the 425 patients waiting yesterday around the country.
