Good clinical skills are all about observation, and observation is massively helped with the right  kit. We are not talking MRI scanners here, but hands-on, front-line equipment that let me look and listen to the body more effectively. That’s some of my stuff laid out on my desk.

Stethoscope: this quintessential piece of medical kit is invaluable, not only for listening to the heart and lungs but also bowels thyroid gland and, occasionally a baby.

Blood Pressure Monitor: for taking blood pressure. Quick and non-invasive. Only really accurate if the patient is relaxed, which tends to be the case as my consultations less rushed than a typical GP visit.

Magnifying glasses: essential for checking skin and eyes and mouth. Dermatology is a tricky business, and I am certainly not a specialist, but I have accurately diagnosed many a case of eczema, psoriasis, and all sorts of lesions, as well as correcting previously incorrect diagnoses, and all through careful observation and attention to the full history of the patient.

Otoscope and ophthalmoscope: for looking inside ears and eyes respectively. I can examine the ear canal and ear-drum, the ceiling, floor and sides of the ear canal, and identify and treat many problems, and with the ophthalmoscope observe the fundus, optic disc and retinal vessels of the eye to aid in an understanding of a variety of symptoms and signs a patient might present with.

Dipstix:  as a first line aid in identifying a number of conditions urine dipstick are invaluable. A quick pee in a pot in the bathroom next door and in a couple of minutes I can obtain useful and actionable information. I get instant feedback on urinary glucose, ketones, leukocytes, blood, protein and pH, all of which can be direct or indirect signifiers of pathology or underlying condition. Quick, cheap, reliable and invaluable.