The number of patients on trolleys in hospital emergency departments has fallen over recent months, but the problem is still significantly worse than in 2007 when it was declared a national emergency, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said.
Speaking at the opening of the union's annual conference in Killarney today, the union's general secretary Liam Doran also said care for patients was being compromised as a result of the departure of thousands of nurses from the health service.
Analysis carried out by the INMO showed that nationally the number of people on trolleys in the first four months of 2012 fell by 17 per cent compared to the same period last year.
The INMO also said there were currently over 2,400 public beds closed around the country.
Mr Doran said while good work was being done, there was still much to do. He said it was no surprise that there were a number of "black holes" in relation to emergency department overcrowding.
"Some hospitals simply do not have enough beds to cater for demand."
Mr Doran said that 5,000 nurses had left the health service in the last three years, 2,000 of whom had left in the last year alone.
"No amount of reassignment, reconfiguration, re-rostering or redeployment" could fill the gaps left by these departures, Mr Doran said.
More than 360 nurses and midwives are in Killarney, Co Kerry, for the conference.
The conference, entitled Safe Care – Safe Practice – No Compromise, is expected to discuss the recruitment moratorium in the health service, hospital overcrowding and cuts to community services.
Delegates will also call on Hiqa to provide a confidential hotline to allow health service staff to alert them directly about concerns over unsafe patient staff ratios.
Speaking on RTÉ this morning, Mr Doran said the hotline was necessary because management at local level had "ignored" valid staff concerns.
“It’s a strong signal. But the needs of patients have to come first,” he said.
Minister for Health James Reilly is due to address the conference on Friday.