Advice on how to access Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Primary care providers

• Request PPE via WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) at www.practiceassist.com.au/Coronavirus-COVID19 demonstrating evidence of need. 
• The requester will be advised if their request is successful, and if so WAPHA will distribute the PPE.

WA Health contracted partners

• WA Health contracted partners (e.g. St John Ambulance, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Silver Chain) are required to provide PPE request information first to Health Support Services via hsscsdccovidresponse@health.wa.gov.au

• PPE request information includes:

  • who and under what circumstances will they be using it
  • likelihood and consequence of exposure to an infection source or a non-infectious agent (e.g. pathogens, irritants, toxins)
  • consequence of their service not being provided
  • what and how much PPE is being requested and how effective it will be in reducing exposure
  • what stocks they hold
  • what their usage rates are (per item per week).
• Health Support Services will then inform the Department of Health of these requests and supply based on availability as appropriate

Aged care providers

• If PPE is urgently required and cannot be sourced, submit an online application form to access to PPE (external site) from the National Medical Stockpile.
• The requester will be advised if their request is successful

Disability service providers

• Disability Service Providers related to the NDIS are to request PPE by sending an email to the Commonwealth at NDISCOVIDPPE@health.gov.au demonstrating evidence of need. 
• The requester will be advised if their request is successful, and if so Health Support Services will be contacted by the Commonwealth to distribute the PPE.

Other government agencies and third party providers

• Other Government Agencies (including WA Police, Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Corrective Services, Department of Communities, Government Trading Enterprises) and third party organisations are required to provide PPE request information first to the Department of Finance via PDWSalesReports@finance.wa.gov.au and establish stocktake and ordering process.
• PPE request information includes:
• who and under what circumstances will they be using it  
• likelihood and consequence of exposure to an infection source or a non-infectious agent (e.g. pathogens, irritants, toxins)
• consequence of their service not being provided
• what and how much PPE is being requested and how effective it will be in reducing exposure
• what stocks they hold
• what their usage rates are (per item per week).
• The Department of Finance will then vet these based on an agreed set of guidelines (including PPE use guidelines) and send the request to the Department of Health for review, if the Department of Finance is unable to source directly itself.
• The Department of Health will then review and approve based on availability and risk as appropriate.

Aboriginal community controlled health organisations

• Request PPE via WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) at www.practiceassist.com.au/Coronavirus-COVID19 demonstrating evidence of need. 
• The requester will be advised if their request is successful, and if so WAPHA will distribute the PPE.