Advice for general practices regarding Softmed surgical masks

Advice for general practices regarding Softmed surgical masks

25 November, 2020

The Commonwealth Department of Health has advised that Softmed surgical masks have been impacted by a defect alert that can be found on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website.

EMPHN has distributed these masks from the National Medical Stockpile to general practices. These masks have not been distributed to pharmacy or allied health services. The advice states:

“When tested by TGA Laboratories, some batches of the masks did not perform at Level 3, but passed at Level 2. Others did not perform at levels 2 and 3, but passed at Level 1.”

Based on this information, EMPHN will no longer distribute the Softmed Surgical masks until we receive further advice from the Department of Health. We encourage you not to use the Softmed masks in a general practice setting. All practices who have received the impacted Softmed masks have been contacted by email to alert them to the situation.

If you have any concerns, please contact practicesupport@emphn.org.au

If you are unable to access PPE through commercial channels, request can be made via the links below:

*Please note: We now have a new brand of level 3 surgical masks available

General practices can submit requests for various PPE.

Allied health can submit requests for masks and goggles.

Pharmacy can submit requests for masks.

It may take up to 4 business days to receive your allocation.