It's emerged that patients who no longer need hospital care are waiting to be discharged.
This follows alarming figures, which show that a patient has remained at Sligo University Hospital for more than two years after being medically cleared to leave.
Health officials have warned that these long stays are putting extra strain on already full hospital wards.
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Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny says the delays highlight a major shortage of nursing home and community care places locally.
The Sinn Féin representative says the situation has put patients in an uncomfortable position:
