In eight of the 10 services inspected, some degree of improvement was required to ensure service users were protected from the risk of harm associated with the delivery of healthcare services.

The road has been closed for a technical examination of the scene to be conducted and diversions are in place.

236 patients are waiting in the emergency departments, while 118 are in wards elsewhere in the hospitals.

The single-vehicle collision occurred on the R186 on the northern side of Tydavnet village at some time between 12:50am and 3am on Monday.

Some of the ambulances lined up outside Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda at about 7pm had been there up to six hours waiting for available beds to hand over patients.

At one stage early on Monday, ambulances were waiting over 300 minutes with patients outside the emergency department where there were no beds available.

The sanction follows a finding that the radiographer, Ugochukwu Owoh, was guilty of professional misconduct and poor professional performance over three separate incidents