Over 5 thousand patients in the Shannonside Northern Sound region left emergency departments without being seen in the first half of this year.

Between January and May of this year a total of 5,172 patients left local hospitals before their treatment was finished.

Martin Daly has warned that some people who should be in hospital are instead being treated at home or in other settings.

Today's INMO Trolley watch figures show just 43 people waiting for beds across the country compared to over 100 patients at the end of June.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre says face coverings should still be worn in certain circumstances.

The charge of 80 Euro per day or 800 Euro per year ended at 12am today

8 people are on a trolley at Mullingar Hospital this morning.

Levels are significantly down on the same period last month.