The issue of overcrowding at Emergency Departments is caused by a variety of different issues, rather than just the practicality of the ED.
33 ambulances brought patients to University Hospital Waterford in a single day recently.
So says Liz Curran, South East Regional Rep with the INMO.
Their figures show there are 534 people around the country without a hospital bed today.
It comes as the organisation is calling for stronger public health advice around mandated mask-wearing amid a surge in RSV and other respiratory illnesses.
Speaking with WLR, Liz says delays being admitted to the Emergency Department can be experienced in situations like this.
"Arrangements have to be made to safely facilitate those patients coming into the Department, so with that amount of patients, there can be a slight delay with some patients actually coming into the department," she said.
She added that Emergency Department overcrowding is a symptom of a much bigger problem.
She says backlogs will only be cleared when there is hospital-wide co-operation.
"It's a system-wide issue, it's not just a problem for the Emergency Department," Liz said.
Despite this, the construction of a new facility is underway in University Hospital Waterford which will offer additional beds.
Intended as a replacement for the Medical 6 ward, the new facility is under construction on the grounds of UHW.
Liz says this will provide additional capacity for the hospital.
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