A new plan to try and tackle hospital overcrowding along with other issues is due to be revealed today by Health Minister Leo Varadkar.
It has been reported that the Health Service will get an injection of €70 million in order to deal with the ongoing overcrowding crisis.
It is believed that the money will be used to address a number of issues including problems in emergency departments and delayed discharges.
On Monday, there were 501 patients on trolleys or waiting for admission for a bed nationwide.
UPDATE – 12.52pm:
It has been reported that the Government will allocate €74 million to deal with the ongoing problems in hospitals nationwide.
Of that amount, €44 million will provide 1,600 extra nursing home places under the Fair Deal scheme.
A further €30 million will provide temporary beds until June.
There will also be extra community, convalescence and district hospital beds on a permanent basis.
It was also stated that about 260 community care beds will also be made available nationwide.
The news was announced with the publication of the Emergency Department Task Force plan.
It has been reported that the measures will take approximately eight weeks to implement.
