ALL GPS need certain items of stationery equipment and basic information in order to be able to do their job effectively. Below is a checklist of items a practice should provide. Currently, practices vary enormously. Non-principals can waste a lot of consulting time searching for basic equipment and information. No wonder patients lack confidence in non-principals and partners feel non-principals relieve little of the pressure. Rooms need to be well lit, have a comfortable chair and be an appropriate temperature. Desks need space on which to write. Tidy and well-equipped rooms enable non-principals to work more efficiently and, patients prefer them too. Non-compliant practices should be reminded of the Help Us To Help You Campaign ^{Note 1}. This is it from the patients’ and non-principals’ sides.

Paperwork needed:

• NASGP Practice Pack (includes many of the items below);
• Practice Name list - partners, nurses, managers, receptionists;
• Telephone Directory - internal numbers and important local numbers, how to get an outside line;
• Aide memoire on how to use the computer - include the name of a dummy patient on which to practise(!);
• Prescription Pad (including, where used, blue FP10 MDAs for daily dispensing of controlled drugs);
• Medical Certificate Pads (Med 3, 4 and 5) Whether your practice holds SC1s for patients or not;
• Private sick notes;
• Forms;
• pathology, haematology, biochemistry, microbiology;
• x-ray; (do you have separate forms for contrast, ultrasound, CT?);
• physiotherapy;
• chiropody;
• counselling referrals;
• any other local forms;
• new index cards - male and female;
• details of how you claim Item of Service Fees, some GMS4 forms;
• Headed notepaper - A5 and A4 and Envelopes;
• Maps of the area;
• Dictating machine and tape, referral pad if you use them.

Equipment needed

• Pens;
• BNF - the latest edition;
• A sphygmomanometer;
• Tongue Depressors;
• Sterets;
• Soap and a towel;
• Pathology bottles - sputum, urine and faeces ones;
• Urinalysis sticks;
• Peak Flow Meter, new mouthpieces, a Volumatic spacer device;
• Tissues;
• Fluoroscein, Snellen Chart, Ishihara plates;
• Ability to darken the room to enable eye examination;
• Practice Formulary;
• Where to get spare batteries from;
• Gloves - (all three sizes) & Lubricating jelly;
• Gynae examination equipment;
• Equipment for phlebotomy;
• Toys/Distractors;
• Stickers for good kids.

Note 1
The Help Us To Help You (HUTHY) Campaign was a patient education campaign that aimed to reduce requests for inappropriate visits, the emphasis was on efficient use of the service for the sake of others.