THERE has been a rise in the number of patients waiting on trolleys in Kerry General Hospital this week.

Today there are 17 patients waiting according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) Trolley Watch figures.

On Monday there were eight people waiting, Tuesday saw the figure rise to 10, there were 12 on Wednesday but that figure has shot up to 17 today.

The rise in patients waiting comes as the INMO Executive Council convenes a national meeting of the Emergency Department Strike Committees and Representatives this afternoon in INMO Head Office in Dublin.

Earlier this week, the Executive Council sanctioned the first day of strike action, involving two hour rolling stoppages, for Thursday, January 14, with subsequent days of action following later.