Orange hospital's coronavirus fever ward staff have been given a $40,000 machine that test fits face masks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Newcrest Mining's $20 million Community Support Fund donated the PortaCount machine to the Orange Health Service on Wednesday morning.
It is the same type of machine Cadia uses to ensure it workforce is correctly wearing respiratory protection.
It's very reassuring to know that our staff have correctly fitted respiratory equipment to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
- Catherine Nowlan, Orange Health Service general manager
Newcrest CEO Sandeep Biswas was at the hospital to deliver the machine to the hospital as part of a visit to Orange.
"This recent information sharing between Newcrest and NSW Health quickly identified an opportunity for the hospital to own their own machine and conduct regular fit testing for their medical staff," he said.
"We are pleased to be able to facilitate this through the Newcrest Community Support Fund.
"The health and safety of our people, their families and the community is of the greatest importance to us and we value the important role our local health care workers play in keeping our community safe and healthy, particularly during these unprecedented times."
Orange Health Service general manager, Catherine Nowlan, said the PortaCount machine would provide a long-term benefit to the hospital, in protecting health staff from respiratory hazards well beyond the pandemic.
"We are grateful for Newcrest's partnership in providing the training and donation of a PortaCount machine for the ongoing use of the Orange Health Service," she said.
"It's very reassuring to know that our staff have correctly fitted respiratory equipment to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission within the hospital and the wider community."
The specialised machine measures real-time fit while the user performs a series of moving, breathing and talking exercises designed to simulate the same movements made in the field.
When the COVID-19 crisis began, the need for effective respiratory protective equipment became vital, particularly in the medical sector.
Newcrest has previously loaned its machine and training advice to the hospital.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...