The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says 98 patients are on trolleys or chairs at CUH, which is a new record for overcrowding at the hospital.
The union has described the situation as "gravely concerning" and is putting nurses under immense pressure to deliver safe healthcare.
Speaking to RedFM News Colm Porter of the INMO says the situation in Cork is being reflected right around the country today:
"There's patients on trolleys across Cork today, and there is severe congestion both in CUH and in The Mercy, and I mean this is just a reflection of what's happening elsewhere in the country. The unfortunate thing today is that there's 641 patients who are without a bed in Irish hospitals, and that's not a good situation for patients or for the staff who are trying to provide care for them."