Flu surge leads to Kerry's out-of-hours GP service to increase staff numbers

There is still times to get the flu vaccine, as cases surge across Kerry.

That’s the message from Dr Gary Stack, who is a Killarney-based GP and the medical director of SouthDoc.

He was speaking as visitor restrictions were put in place at University Hospital Kerry, with the HSE warning that rising influenza hospitalisations are causing significant pressure.

Dr Stack says in the past two weeks, there has been a 15% increases in cases compared to the same time last year.

He says as they expect the Christmas period to be busy with further cases, SouthDoc has increased staff by 50% to deal with the surge in cases: