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.

How does the introduction of free GP care for children impact on GP service provision? A qualitative study of GPs.

Background: Optimising child health in general practice is a key health service priority. In Ireland, where 23% of Ireland's population are aged under 16, GP consultations have historically involved a private fee or have been covered by Ireland's General Medical Services (GMS) scheme. In July 2015, this scheme was expanded so that free GP care was provided to all children aged under 6 years.

70,489 primary care encounters: retrospective analysis of morbidity at a primary care centre in Ireland.

Background: While considerable changes are happening in primary care in Ireland and considerable potential exists in intelligence derived from practice-based data to inform these changes, relatively few large-scale general morbidity surveys have been published.

Aims: To examine the most common reasons why people attend primary care, specifically 'reasons for encounter' (RFEs) among the general practice population and among specific demographic groups (i.e.

Does eliminating fees at point of access affect Irish general practice attendance rates in the under 6 years old population? A cross sectional study at six general practices.

With the introduction of free point of access GP care for children aged under six imminent, we sought to determine consultation rates among this group. We interrogated data from practice management systems at six general practices (total patient population 27080). A total of 1931 children aged under six were responsible for 5814 surgery consultations.

Are Irish adult general practice consultation rates as low as official records suggest? A cross sectional study at six general practices.

Accurate data on primary care activity is key to health services planning and reconfiguration. Official data estimate general practice adult consultation rates to be 3.2 visits annually, based on patient self reports.