Over 5,000 patients have been waiting on a bed in midlands hospitals so far this year.
2022 is officially the worst year for hospital overcrowding on record, according to the INMO.
Nearly 120,000 patients have been on trolleys so far in Ireland this year.
5,404 people have been waiting on a bed in midlands hospitals in 2022 - that's slightly below last years figure of 5,470, but with ten days left in the year, it's very likely that'll be surpassed.
The Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar has been by far the worst in the region, with just under 3,000 patients waiting for beds so far.
That's followed by the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore, with 1,435 and the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise, with 1,032.
Meanwhile, the HSE say it can not guarantee safe staffing levels in hospitals in the event of a January Covid surge.
It come as 120 covid cases were confirmed overnight.
Flu cases are up 75% in the past week with a 35% increase in those being admitted to hospital since the start of the month.
Chief Clinical Officer, Dr Colm Henry, has this advice:
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