More than 30,000 items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have been distributed over the past week to primary healthcare providers across the Mackay region to help protect healthcare workers and the wider community during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Australian Government Department of Health recently tasked Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) to distribute PPE from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS) as part of the Government’s $180 million Living with COVID-19 Primary Care Package.
After receiving the supply, NQPHN has now couriered PPE to 13 local general practices, GP Respiratory Clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) which are treating COVID positive patients.
To date, NQPHN has distributed the following across Mackay:
8,000 surgical face masks
8,000 gloves
7,540 P2/N95 face masks
3,170 surgical gowns
3,150 eye goggles
160 hand sanitisers
65 pulse oximeters
20 face shields.
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said it was important that healthcare professionals have access to the critical PPE supplies they require to continue to safely consult with their patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“The safety of our healthcare workers and the communities to which they provide health services is of paramount importance during a pandemic like COVID-19,” Ms Whyte said.
“After being informed of the PPE being made available, we quickly assembled a team which assisted in taking delivery, opening, sorting, repacking and organising couriers for these items for primary healthcare providers across North Queensland,” Ms Whyte said.
“It was a significant logistical task, and our team did an amazing job to ensure all PPE orders were fulfilled within just a few days.
“I would like to thank everyone in the primary care sector for continuing to work together with NQPHN and the broader health care sector to protect our community here in North Queensland.
“Primary care plays a vital role in saving lives and protecting the health of our communities, and PPE plays a crucial role in achieving that.”