OPEN ACCESS GASTROSCOPY - 2ND SURVEY OF CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM

June 1990 a survey of members of the endoscopy section of the British Society of Gastroenterology showed that 47% of respondents were offeri ng some form of open access gastroscopy (OAG). Only 10% offered true ( non-censored) OAG. The survey was repeated in June 1994. The overall p rovision of OAG had risen to 74%, most of whom were offering true OAG. Censored OAG is still widely practised and characterised by referral letters to a consultant in contrast with the use of referral forms (p < 0.001), Referral forms are being increasingly used and are an effect ive way of capturing important: data such as the patients' symptoms (1 00%), previous treatment (87%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug o r aspirin use (78%) suspected diagnosis (74%), and other medical condi tions (72%). Forms were used to establish clinical responsibility with the general practitioner in 64% of units. Standardised referral and r eporting forms were used by 27% of respondents. A perceived inability to cope with the expected workload was still the most commonly cited r eason for not being able to offer OAG. Although 20% of units with a si ngle handed endoscopist were able to offer OAG, this compared with 68% of units with two or more endoscopists (p<0.001). Only three units in dicated that an OAG service had had to be withdrawn, but a further 12 consultants (nine units) were now offering an age restricted service b ecause of excessive workload. Two thirds of the respondents not offeri ng OAG were hoping to do so in the near future, True OAG has increased from 10% to 41% in four years.