Top 8 Most Commonly Used Consumables in Primary Care

1. Examination Gloves
   • Gloves are a fundamental part of infection control protocols in any healthcare setting. GP surgeries use nitrile, latex, or vinyl gloves to maintain hygiene and protect both patients and staff from cross-contamination during examinations and procedures.

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2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
   • Single-use disposable PPE such as gloves and aprons provide an additional barrier against contamination during patient examinations and minor procedures.

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3. Hand Sanitiser and Disinfectant Wipes
   • Maintaining hand hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of infections.

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4. Sterile and Non-Sterile Dressings
   • GP surgeries frequently manage wounds, ulcers, and minor injuries. A variety of dressings, including gauze pads, adhesive dressings, and foam dressings, are essential for wound care and infection prevention.

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5. Urinalysis Test Strips
   • Urine test strips play a vital role in diagnosing conditions such as infections, diabetes, and kidney disease.

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6. Syringes, Needles and Sharps Bins
   • Vaccinations, blood tests, and medication administration require a steady supply of syringes and needles. Safe disposal of sharps is equally important, making sharps bins a crucial component of GP practice waste management.

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7. Diagnostic Consumables (i.e. swabs, tongue depressors, otoscope tips etc.)
   • Swabs are essential for taking throat, wound, or nasal samples, while tongue depressors and otoscope tips assist in patient examinations.

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8. First Aid Supplies
   • GP surgeries must be equipped with essential first-aid items, including bandages, plasters, saline solutions, and antiseptics. These supplies are necessary for treating minor injuries and providing emergency care when required.

Final thoughts: Well-managed consumables stock ensures GP surgeries operate smoothly and maintain high standards of patient care. Automated systems like Medulla AI optimise stock levels by predicting demand and streamlining ordering. To learn more about how we can help your practice, please reach out. 😊