Nursing representatives have called for an immediate increase in staff levels to relieve an "intolerable" situation in the A&E department of University College Hospital, Galway.
In a statement, the Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) said there were 28 patients on trolleys and other patients were being treated in a waiting room.
"The whole A&E Department is blocked because there are no beds to admit patients," INO Industrial Relations Officer, Ms Noreen Muldoon said.
"Our members are enduring intolerable working conditions. These patients must be moved on to wards and additional nursing staff are required immediately in order to provide safe quality care."
The unions says the A&E Agreement brokered by the LRC is not being properly implemented.
It has called for an emergency A&E Forum meeting, including consultants and is requesting the intervention of the hospital's CEO.
