Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy--a GP service.

Since 1974 there has been an open endoscopy service available to general practitioners in the Bournemouth and Christchurch area. Patients are referred directly with a standard form. A retrospective comparison of requests for barium-meal examinations and for endoscopy by general practitioners showed that the reasons for referral were similar. Forty per cent of patients in each group showed no abnormality. Ulceration was found in 21.1% of patients who underwent endoscopy and 9.7% investigated by barium meal. Duodenitis or gastric erosions were found in a further 16% of endoscopies. More hiatus hernias and deformed duodenal caps were found at barium meal. Despite these differences the results of follow-up were similar.