EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
    We consent to the use in this Registration Statement of MEDIQ Incorporated
and subsidiaries ("MEDIQ") and MEDIQ/PRN Life Support Services, Inc. and
subsidiaries ("PRN") (a wholly owned subsidiary of MEDIQ) on Form S-4 of our
reports dated November 25, 1997 for MEDIQ and May 21, 1998 for PRN,
respectively, appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration
Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in
such Prospectus.
 
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 10, 1998