Get your practice winter-ready
Winter brings more patients, more infections and more pressure on your team. A little planning now keeps your shelves stocked and your rooms ready through to spring.
The short answer
- Stock up before demand peaks. Masks, wipes, gloves and hand sanitiser all get busier as winter bugs arrive.
- Check your assessment kit. Every room needs a working thermometer and pulse oximeter, with spare probe covers and batteries.
- Order early for Christmas. Deliveries slow down over the bank holidays, so place your orders in early December.
- Keep a buffer. Holding a few weeks of your fastest-moving items covers delays and staff absence.
Winter stock checklist
| Item | Why you need it | Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Face masks | For coughing patients and staff when respiratory infections are circulating. | Shop |
| Hand sanitiser | At reception, in waiting rooms and in every clinical room. | Shop |
| Disinfectant wipes | For cleaning surfaces and equipment between patients. | Shop |
| Gloves and aprons | Busy months mean higher PPE use. | Shop |
| Thermometers | To check temperatures quickly at the start of an assessment. | Shop |
| Pulse oximeters | To check oxygen levels in patients with breathing problems. | Shop |
| Blood pressure monitors | To keep routine checks running through busy months. | Shop |
| Nebulisers | For practices that treat respiratory patients in clinic. | Shop |
| Tissues | For waiting rooms and consulting rooms. | Shop |
| Clinical waste bags | More patients means more clinical waste. | Shop |
Three things to sort before December
Reception and waiting room
Put hand sanitiser and masks at the entrance, clear signage, and wipes for regular cleaning.
Test it now
Check thermometers, oximeters and BP monitors work, and have batteries and probe covers in stock.
Plan for absence
Make sure more than one person knows how to place orders and check deliveries.
Free download: Download our winter readiness checklist, plus a treatment room weekly stock checklist and a clinical room cleaning schedule.
Ready to order?
Common questions
When should we place our Christmas orders?
We recommend ordering by early December so stock arrives before the bank holidays. Call us if you need a delivery before a specific date.
Which thermometer is best for a busy clinic?
Non-contact and ear thermometers are quick and easy to use. Check that probe covers or cleaning wipes are available for the model you choose.
Can you help us cut winter spend?
Yes. Upload an invoice to our free invoice analyser, or send it for a free price comparison, and we’ll show you where you could save.
Keep reading
Get ahead of the busy season
Send us your list and we’ll quote it in one go. Call 020 3301 6500 or email help@medical-supermarket.com.
