Healthcare Supplies

There is no single list that applies to every site. Your requirement comes from a risk assessment covering the number of people on site, the nature of the work, and the hazards present. Most commercial premises hold first aid provision as a minimum under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. Care settings, treatment rooms and higher-risk sites typically hold a broader range, and should base that range on their own assessment and internal policies.

Hold enough to cover normal use between deliveries, plus a buffer for busier periods. A practical approach is to record what you use over a three-month window, then set a reorder point from that figure. Watch expiry dates on sterile and single-use items, because overstocking those simply moves waste further down the line rather than saving money.

Assign a named person for each site or floor. That person checks stock on a set schedule, replaces anything used, damaged or out of date, and keeps a simple log of the checks. Without a named owner, checks tend to lapse and gaps only come to light at the point of an incident or an audit.

Many do. Sterile dressings, eye wash, gloves and similar single-use items carry expiry dates that must be observed, and an out-of-date item does not count towards your provision. Record expiry dates when stock arrives rather than at the point of a check, so replacements can be ordered ahead of time.

Supplies cover the consumable items your teams use day to day. Clinical waste services cover what happens to the waste those activities produce, including sharps and infectious waste, which must be segregated, stored and legally disposed of through a licensed route. Most sites need both, and it is worth reviewing them together so provision and disposal stay aligned.

Yes. An office has very different requirements to a care home, a school, a treatment room or a manufacturing site. Risk profile, the people on site, and the activities carried out all change what you should hold. Assess each type of site separately rather than applying one standard list across a mixed estate.