Doctors working in the HSE say hundreds of patients are dying each year because they discharge themselves early from Emergency Departments.

Its emerged that 50,000 patients left without treatment last year, because they couldn't face long waiting times or overcrowded conditions.

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine says those who discharge themselves risk poor medical outcomes, and the figures for 2016 are likely to be even worse.

The association says more hospital beds need to be made available to prevent long waiting times in Emergency departments.

Emergency Department consultant Dr James Gray told the Last Word that its a serious problem: