Galway public hospitals - UHG and Portiuncula - are facing into the weekend with high numbers of patients on trolleys.
Both hospitals have been under severe pressure all week with UHG battling the Winter vomiting bug and high numbers of flu and RSV cases.
Today there are 76 patients awaiting a bed at the Galway city public hospital while 21 are on trolleys at the Ballinasloe facility
Across the country 657 patients are on trolleys today with University Hospital Limerick the worst affected with 108 patients awaiting a bed
So far this week, 3,179 patients have been admitted to hospital without a bed, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization.
General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha says this week was always going to be incredibly busy, but steps can be taken to ensure that we are not in a similar position next year.
