A real-time measurement of general practice workload in the Republic of Ireland: a prospective study.

Background: Demand for GP services in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) is increasing, and the resultant escalation in workload demands is an issue of growing concern. Accordingly, the accurate measurement and description of GP workload is essential to inform future healthcare planning.

Aim: To provide a real-time measurement of GP workload with respect to hours worked and of proportional time expenditure on typical workload activities.

Acute herpes zoster and post herpetic neuralgia in primary care: a study of diagnosis, treatment and cost.

Acute herpes zoster and its complication post herpetic neuralgia represent a significant challenge to primary care physicians in their care of an ageing population of patients. This was a cross-sectional observational study by means of a quantitative survey of 1,000 general practitioners registered in Ireland exploring the frequency of diagnosis, methods of treatment and cost of AHZ and PHN in primary care. We recorded an 18% response rate (n = 184) with an 83% completion rate (n = 152/184).