Viral Respiratory Disease Pandemic Response Plan

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:31): My question is to the Premier. Has each hospital developed standard operating procedure for personal protection equipment use and distribution as must be prepared according to the SA Health Viral Respiratory Disease Pandemic Response Plan, and will those procedures be released?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:31): I don't have those procedures with me, but what I do know is that we are in the midst at the moment of a global shortage of PPE, and this is something that is of great concern to, I think, all health departments right around the world at the moment.

When we look at the shortage that exists globally, it's one of the reasons why we were motivated to work with local company Detmold Packaging, a longstanding South Australian family business, to actually produce PPE, and in particular face masks, right here in South Australia. It is something that the taxpayers have contributed a small sum of money to do to make sure that we can fast-track the introduction of that manufacturing capability on our shores.

It's also one of the reasons why we have looked at trialling the use of vending machines with Benleigh vending machines to make sure that we can have the effective distribution of PPE to front-line workers as and when they are needed. I've got to make it very clear that obviously we are not asking members of the staff to pay for those. There is a sticker that is put onto their credentials and they can swipe it. It also gives peace of mind to those workers so they can actually see the PPE there.

We have had some considerable problems with regard to the distribution of PPE. We have examples that we have already found of pilfering, stockpiling and inappropriate use. In some hospitals, we have seen six months' use of PPE in a single week. We know that this is not an optimal use of a very finite resource, and so that trial is going on at Flinders Medical Centre at the moment. Can I also report to the parliament that the federal government is working very hard on two strategies: one is a procurement strategy, and one is also, as I was mentioning before, a production strategy here in Australia.

Tens of millions of pieces of PPE are due in Australia in the coming days. They will be effectively distributed across the country. I know it is an anxious time. It is particularly an anxious time for those people on the front line. That is why we do have to have protocols around their use at the moment to protect the vulnerable people who are on the front line. I will come back with a specific answer to the question the member asks as soon as I have that information to hand.