The Health Minister says he expects this winter to be difficult, given the perfect storm of flu and Covid.
It comes as the number of patients being treated has increased in the past number of days, with 409 people being treated in acute hospitals around the country.
Last week, 88 patients were waiting on trolleys at Cork University Hospital which the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation say was a new overcrowding record for CUH.
The union say the situation at the hospital is completely unworkable and unacceptable and has warned that the trolley crisis will only deteriorate as the winter hits.
The union says in advance of the winter and the warnings of a "perfect storm" a plan needs to be put in place which would see additional acute beds and supports for nurses.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the most important thing people can do to help hospitals, is get vaccinated.
