Hospital overcrowding has reduced to 600 patients waiting for admission to a bed, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
Yesterday the number was put at 641.
The hospitals most affected are University Hospital Limerick with 104 patients waiting, University Hospital Galway with 64 and Sligo University Hospital with 45 patients waiting.
The HSE's figures put the level of overcrowding at 411, with 302 of these patients on trolleys in emergency departments and 109 on trolleys on wards, waiting for admission to a bed.
Read more: How are overcrowding figures calculated and which hospitals are most affected?
Separately, the INMO has published the results of a survey of nurses on their experiences of treating patients on trolleys or in hospital corridors.
It found that over 84% have cared for patients in inappropriate settings like emergency department corridors, waiting rooms, ward porches and other areas within the last year.
In the replies, over 85% of respondents believe that patient care and safety were compromised in these settings.
Many also reported a lack of privacy and dignity for patients while being treated on a trolley.
Most nurses said there was a need for more beds and more nursing staff.
There were 1,587 replies to the survey conducted between 19 and 31 January last.
