"Telephone appointments only! Is this best..."

Following a referral from the surgery for an endoscopy I was diagnosed as having a hiatal hernia and advised to go back and see my doctor. However I was only offered a call back discussion and prescribed medication for acid reflux and pain. In the past few weeks I have experience some bad side effects (dizziness and headaches) and palpitations (I have a history of atrial fib.) and tried to make an appointment to see my doctor. But I have been told today that it is no longer possible to pre-book an appointment (at any time now or in the future) to have my symptoms checked and discuss my diagnosis, other than by telephone conversation. My last telephone discussion went like this .....don't eat spicy food, no alcohol, watch my weight (I'm 8.5 - 9 stone!) take medication, oh, and ok to do new fitness exercise routine (Pilates and running). Basically the same information I could get from any pamphlet or internet site myself...apart from the exercise bit.

The "dizziness" resulted in a fall down the stairs last week so I have now stopped the medication for GORD. I have a strong family history of Oesophageal Cancer which worries me and concerned my first doctor enough (surgery visit... noticed I had difficulties sitting up) to refer me in the first instance. But now I am completely in the dark as to what is going on.

I know our surgeries are busy but I am left feeling angry, confused and abandoned by a service that I had admired and respected since moving to the area and worried about my current health. I just wanted to see someone sometime soon and find some answers ... not just a phone call. To see a patient is surely to understand them better. I find myself crying over my situation and that of a NHS that can maybe no along afford to care for its patients appropriately. So for now I suppose my next port of call will be A and E (and back to square one) ....a longer drive, a longer wait, another stranger looking at a sheet of paper that is me, for the first time maybe, and more time and money wasted. How very sad.!