The number of Irish patients waiting on hospital trolleys this month was more than 44% higher than in January 2007, when a national emergency was declared.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said the increase was partly due to the freezing weather conditions of the past month. "There are a number of factors in this increase, and obviously the bad weather was a big one," said David Hughes, deputy general secretary of the INMO.

In January 2007, 5,361 patients waited on trolleys across the country. In January 2010, the figure was 7,741.

"Hospitals saw a huge increase in the number of people coming in with weather-related injuries, and elderly people also, so there was a big strain in our accident and emergency units.

"However there are other factors, such as the huge number of beds closed off because there aren't enough staff, or the slow discharge of patients."

Figures show that over 1,900 beds have been closed off due to the moratorium on staff, resulting in increasing numbers of patients on trolleys.

Hughes called on health minister Mary Harney to redeclare a national emergency in Irish hospitals.

"People aren't fully aware of how bad things are in our hospitals. It is only when families have relatives in there on trolleys and they see it with their own two eyes that they properly understand our health system is crippled."

According to the figures, a new record was reached when the daily figure for those on trolleys reached 500, an all-time high.

Among the worst hit hospitals are Beaumont, the Mater, Letterkenny General and Cavan General.