Queensland Health Emergency Personal Protective
Equipment Stockpile
Queensland Health (QH) has a reserve of personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used,
where appropriate, in events of state and national significance e.g. pandemic.
In addition to the QH Emergency PPE Stockpile, the Commonwealth is currently reviewing
medical stockpile management arrangements and a decision has been made by the
Australia Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) to pre-position frequently used
PPE (surgical masks, eye-protection, gloves, and gowns) within each jurisdiction. P2/N95
masks will continue to be managed centrally due to low turnover rates within jurisdictions.
Authority to release the stock
The authority to release the QH emergency PPE stockpile to other Queensland Health
distribution centres and Queensland Health Public Hospitals sits with the Chief Health
Officer (CHO). This stock will not be released to Private facilities or other entities unless
approved by the CHO.
The authority to release the National Medical Stockpile sits with the Commonwealth.
Oversight of the QH Emergency PPE stockpile
Health Services Queensland (HSQ) has responsibility for managing the PPE stockpile in
consultation with key stakeholders. To ensure that the PPE stockpile is managed
effectively a PPE Stockpile Reference Group has been established. Membership of
this group includes:

Warehouse Manager, Richlands, HSQ

Communicable Diseases Infection Management, Communicable Diseases Unit

Nursing Director, Incident Management and Pandemic Planning, Communicable
Diseases Unit

Director, Counter Disaster and Major Events
This group meets quarterly and their purpose is to:
 Ensure that the PPE stockpile is appropriate and agile to allow for
changing/emerging/ or new threats
 Review stock management on a regular basis
 Ensure collaboration with Hospital and Health Services
 Ensure that deployment activities are planned and meet the needs of the
Queensland Health Public Hospitals
 Achieve value for money
 Ensure that existing PPE contracts and Standing Offer Arrangements are current
 Make recommendations to the CHO, the Deputy Director General (DDG) and the
National Medical Stockpile Advisory Committee
Composition of QH Emergency PPE Stockpile
Following consultation with Hospital and Health Service Infection Prevention and Control
Practitioners and Disaster Managers, table 1 is a summary of additional PPE reserves:
Table 1: Summary PPE reserves
SUMMARY
P2 MASKS
SURGICAL MASKS
LONG SLEEVED GOWNS
GOGGLES
Management of the Stockpile
The stockpile is managed by the HSQ and the Richlands warehouse by adding the above
quantities of stock to the existing Min/Max levels for those items. The increase in the new
minimum level against the current levels represents the stockpile, and becomes the new reorder point for each item. Stock is rotated as normal, on a First-In-First-Out basis, to ensure
no stock becomes obsolete.
The current levels allow for adequate rotation within the existing shelf-life for each of the
products allowing for the proper and safe rotation within their expiry date.
The cost of this additional PPE is incorporated within HSQ’s day-to-day management of
stock within the Richlands Warehouse.
Richlands Warehouse will only release these quantities of PPE upon specific request from
the Chief Health Officer.
HSQ will be alerted immediately of any situations where the use of the emergency PPE
stockpile may be needed. Distribution centres and HHSs will then be notified and advised
how to access the emergency PPE stockpile.
Reimbursement of Costs
Costs incurred with the procurement and delivery of PPE during an event of state or national
significance will be met from within existing budgets until other financial provisions are made
and implemented. HHSs and divisions should open or use an existing cost centre e.g.
pandemic influenza cost centre and maintain an accurate and timely record of all
expenditure throughout the event. This is especially important if there is a decision made to
reimburse expenses.
Additional information
Please refer to the following documents for additional information in relation to PPE
stockpiles:
Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic influenza (AHMMPI):
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-ahmppi.htm
Queensland Health Disaster Plan: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/publications/clinicalpractice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-infection/diseases/influenza/queensland-healthdisaster-plan.pdf
Queensland Health Pandemic Influenza Plan:
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/publications/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/diseasesinfection/diseases/influenza/influenza-pandemic-plan.pdf
Pandemic influenza: Infection prevention and control: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinicalpractice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-infection/diseases/influenza/pandemic/default.asp
Ebola virus disease (EVD) – Information for staff:
http://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/cdu/diseases/ebola/home.htm
Process for accessing Ebola virus disease PPE stockpile:
http://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/cdu/docs/ebola-ppe-stockpile.pdf
Contact us
For further information email pandemic_cdu@health.qld.gov.au