The supply of sterile equipment and disposable materials should be seamless and reliable. Information on all sterile items and their progress through the supply chain should be captured and consolidated in a single system with a minimal need for manual data entry.

This information should then be readily available to all those involved in the supply chain — the logistics team, theatre staff, ward nurses, surgical staff, GPs, practice managers, and practice nurses.

A well-managed and seamless sterile supply chain reduces human error and increases safety. It reduces the risk to patients of healthcare acquired infection and controls the risk to staff who handle these materials and equipment.