There are 23 patients on hospital trolleys today at the Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar, and 29 at Galway University Hospital.

There were 4 on trolleys at the Mayo General Hospital yesterday, but that figure has risen to 23 today.

Management at the Castlebar hospital says the emergency department is very busy today, and all beds in the hospital are in use at present.

In addition, patients are being accomodated in the medical assessment unit, which is adding to the pressure in that unit.

Hospital management say every effort is being made to identify beds for those patients who require admission, but people attending the emergency department at Mayo General can expect delays.

People are being urged to visit the emergency department only in the case of real emergencies – otherwise to contact their GP in the first instance.