NEWSFLASH: Public Sector Personal Protective Equipment - Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (Tasmanian Branch)

COVID-19

Updates for nurses, midwives and care workers in Tasmania

Newsflash: Public Sector and PPE

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) have been made aware of concerns from members relating to the proposed ‘re-use or recycling’ of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across the Tasmanian Health Service (THS).

The ANMF raised these concerns with the Secretary of Health, Katherine Morgan-Wicks, on Sunday 5 April 2020, and queried whether there had been a direction provided to start re-using or re-cycling PPE. The Secretary of Health has advised that there is no direction from the Department of Health to re-use or re-cycle PPE.

The ANMF therefore would like to reiterate to members that use of PPE is currently supported by the Australian Governments Department of Health guidelines and that these should be adhered to depending on the relevant practice area and must be supported in your clinical area.

If you have concerns with regard to supply of relevant PPE, or you have been asked to re-use or re-cycle PPE, please do not hesitate to contact our Member Support Team via membersupport@anmftas.org.au or for urgent matters phone (03) 6223 6777 or 1800 001 241 (if outside Hobart).

Please note: Due to the COVID-19 situation, our Member Support Team are now practicing social isolation strategies and working from home. Bearing this in mind, email is the preferred and fastest way of contacting them.

Download a print ready PDF of this newsflash here.

View the full COVID-19 page here

Updates correct as at 7 April 2020
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary