Cork University Hospital had the highest number of people that were waiting to be seen, with 29,789 adults and 6,043 children on outpatient waiting lists.

The Blackpool-based doctor said around 10% of people in Ireland do not have a GP. 

Staff were asked to work overtime at CUH over the bank holiday weekend to try to mitigate potential risks from overcrowding. 

The figures have prompted calls for the delivery of Cork's planned elective hospital to be expedited. 

12,582 patients were admitted to the hospital without a bed during, what has been described by the INMO as, “the worst year for hospital overcrowding in Ireland”.

The INMO has said that 2023 was the worst year on record for hospital overcrowding.

702 admitted patients are waiting for hospital beds today with Cork University Hospital among the worst affected facilities. 

More than 14,000 of these patients have been waiting for at least 18 months 

Yesterday, there were 67 admitted patients waiting for beds at hospitals in Cork.