The Mid-Western Health Board is investigating claims that a 74-year-old Limerick woman was left on a trolley in an A&E ward for 33 hours.
The woman, whose name is not being released, is from Cappamore, Co Limerick.
She was admitted on Monday afternoon with severe pain associated with a recent hernia operation.
As well as the alleged 33 hours on a trolley, the woman also claims that she was left beside an entrance door and had to endure "freezing cold" conditions. It is further alleged that when she got up to use the toilet her trolley was taken by another patient.
The woman's son who asked not to be named last night described the conditions at the hospital as "a disgrace".
"She was brought to the hospital at noon on Monday but the place was full to the brim. Her pain was so bad she needed to lie down but did not get a trolley until five that evening," said her son.
"My mother was moved around the waiting area four times and left beside the ambulance bay. Every time somebody came in from the ambulance, she would be blasted by icy cold air. It was freezing cold there. She could not sleep there with the cold on Monday night.
"When she went in she was sick, she is worse now and will be there for another week."
A health board spokesperson said the woman was admitted at 9 p.m on Monday and treated on a trolley until she was moved to a ward at 3.45 p.m on Tuesday.
"We would like to apologise for the delay and discomfort which was due to the sheer volume of referrals this week, which has been the busiest at the hospital for sometime," added the spokesperson.