What to include...

Along with admin equipment you will need such as your Smartcard, its good to also take Photo ID with you. You might be asked for this on your first time at a new practice or when out on a visit. Your Smartphone is also an invaluable tool to use for navigation along with any clinical tools/apps you might use. Its also worth thinking about things you might need personally for the day like Water bottle, Snacks, Lunch if you’re not sure what amenities are nearby.

We have put together a checklist of useful items you might need day to day….

So, what should you include?

Its firstly important to make sure that you have a doctors bag which is lockable.

• Stethoscope
• Diagnostic set
• Auroscope
• BP machine
• Sphygmomanometer
• Ophthalmoscope
• Reflex Hammer
• Tuning fork
• Tongue depressors (wrapped)
• Tape Measure
• Tourniquet
• Thermometer
• Peak flow meter and mouthpieces
• Pulse Oximeter
• Phlebotomy equipment incl. Venflons, butterflies, needles, syringes, cotton, plater etc
• Small portable sharps bin
• Dip sticks
• Specimen bottles
• Swabs
• Pregnancy test kit
• Obstetric wheel
• Glucometer
• Alcohol wipes
• Sanitising hand gel
• Non-latex Gloves
• Small torch
• Lubricating jelly
• BNF either a smartphone app version or paper
• It's also worth having some spare batteries for the items that require them
• You will also be responsible for ensuring all equipment has been recalibrated

What else?

When considering what Controlled Drugs to keep in your doctors bag, it’s worth considering a few factors.

• What the area is like i.e. what conditions will you be likely seeing
• Proximity to nearest hospital
• Storage requirements. Most medicines need to be between 4 and 25C so think about varying temperatures when you are in and out of the car etc
• Shelf-life
• Availability of 24-hour pharmacy
• Extent of Paramedic cover

Considering emergency situations

Consider carrying medicines that will help in an emergency situation as a minimum such as Adrenaline, Aspirin, GTN spray, Salbutamol either with a nebuliser or inhaler, Naloxone, Benzylpenicillin, Midazolam etc. along with a reference to age-appropriate doses. You should keep a CD register of the stock in your bag and always ensure that your doctor’s bag is stored away from view if leaving in a car for example, you are responsible for the safeguarding of these items.

To restock your bag, you can do this by completing a private prescription, you will need to include the following…

• Name and Address
• GMC number
• Quantity of Controlled Drugs requested
• The purpose for these Controlled Drugs
• Signature

Get in touch

We hope you find this checklist useful, if there is anything else you think is important to include in your doctors bag as a Locum GP, get in touch!

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For more details or if you would like to discuss this with our team further, please get in touch with Thomas who would be happy to go through this with you. Contact us today to arrange a time to speak.

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