News

Call for sewing buffs to mobilise on masks

Thu, 16 Jul 2020 04:49:00

Sewing buffs are being urged to get behind an effort to make cloth face masks available for visitors to Mildura Base Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wearing face masks is currently optional for hospital visitors under DHHS guidelines, but MBH Director of Intensive Care Dr Alison Walker said it’s possible the masks will become compulsory if the situation in Victoria continues to worsen.
“We’re trying to get on the front foot if the situation does change, and it’d be great if there are some more people who have some time, some sewing skills and would like to help out the community,” Dr Walker said.
“Regardless of the departmental guidelines, we’d also like to be able to be able to have face masks available to people if they do feel they’d like to wear one during their visit – if we had a supply of cloth masks available, it would be nice to be able to do that,” she said.
Mandy Gowers and Helen Hullah, from local business Lesley May’s Patchwork and Craft were among a number of people who began making scrubs for hospital staff when protective garments were in short supply early in the pandemic.  Mandy and Helen also made 130 cloth masks for use when required.
Dr Walker said the hospital was well-supplied with Personal Protective Equipment including masks for clinical use, but supplying masks for visitors would be a significant extra drain on resources and would quickly exhaust the available supplies from the existing volunteers.
“Our volunteers have made a terrific contribution, but if the wearing of masks becomes compulsory for visitors, then that will be significant numbers,” Dr Walker said.
“We have around 350 people a day arriving at hospital reception and a large proportion of those are visiting patients. If they do have to wear a mask, then that will be a substantial number of masks,” she said.
“And that will be an extra demand at the same time that every other hospital and health service around the State will also be looking for more masks.
Dr Walker said many people expressed a wish that could do something positive to help.
“So if we have some people in our community who are willing to take this on, that certainly will be much appreciated.  It will make a difference to the experience of both patients, and people who are visiting them at a challenging time.”
Dr Walker said anyone who wished to get involved or to donate cloth masks should contact Todd George – Support Services Manager, 5022 3201.
Information, including a short video, on how to make a face mask is on the DHHS website: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-masks-covid-19

Pictured: (L-R) Mandy Gowers (Owner of Lesley May’s Patchwork and Craft) and Helen Hullah (Manager) pictured with scrubs and cloth masks made voluntarily for MBH.