CORONAVIRUS —
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
290. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the supply and use of
personal protective equipment utilised in public hospitals in Western Australia
and increasing demand on stocks arising from COVID-19.
(1) Please identify the critical
PPE that is used by WA Health and the current stock levels of each.
(2) Based on
current demand and current stock levels, what is the expected time until stocks
are depleted without the receipt of further supplies?
(3) Have any
restrictions been placed on the use of PPE in light of demand on stock levels,
and what are those restrictions?
(4) How is the
state government assisting private health service providers and private
physicians to access critical supplies, including PPE?
Hon ALANNA CLOHESY
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Critical PPE for the COVID-19 response includes
face masks, both surgical and N95; hand sanitiser; gowns; gloves; safety
glasses; and face shields.
(2) Current stock
on hand at the WA Health state distribution centre represents approximately
three to five weeks' supply based on
current usage. This does not account for the stock on hand at each hospital
site. WA Health received its first commonwealth stock deliveries last week and
is working to secure and agree ongoing volumes and deliveries from the
commonwealth. WA Health has confidence in its core suppliers providing historical demand for the health system
and is securing new suppliers to meet the increased demand.
(3) Guidelines on
the appropriate use of PPE in WA Health facilities have been created and are
regularly reviewed and updated. These are available on the WA Health external
webpage.
(4) WA Health is
in regular contact with private hospitals on a range of issues, including PPE
supply and usage, and is preparing to support a range of key service providers
outside the WA Health system, should it be required.