Trolley figures in hospitals for the month of March have been the highest this year for the same month over the last 11 years.

9,459 patients, admitted for in-patient care, found themselves on trolleys this March.

The analysis was carried out by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

While the overall figure was up by 1% the analysis showed that hospitals in the Eastern area, down 29%, fared better than those in the country which were up by 16%.

University Hospital Galway was the third highest with 638 patients waiting on a trolley for the month of March.

INMO General Secretary, Liam Doran told Midwest News this evening that the figures for March are very disappointing.