The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) is warning conditions in emergency departments will get worse than ever this winter.

The organisation is to meet with the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar today at their annual conference in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Doctors say conditions in A&Es, resources and growing waiting lists are making their jobs more and more difficult.

President of IHCA Dr Gerard Crotty has said his colleagues are growing very concerned about the coming winter months.

“We are in the midst of a growing crisis. Consultants in hospitals all around the country are very concerned that there are far more patients on trolleys and on waiting lists than this time last year,” Dr Crotty said.

“And we all remember the appalling conditions that patients had to endure in our emergency departments last year.

“As a doctor I am really worried that we could be facing a much bigger crisis this winter unless urgent action is taken.”