Hospitals scramble to prevent surgery cancellations due to global sterilisation wrap shortage caused by COVID-19 PPE demand

A global shortage of sterilisation wrap for surgical equipment has left Queensland hospitals scrambling to source alternatives, like stainless steel boxes and special plastic, to avoid cancelling patient surgeries, according to surgeons.

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Queensland (RACSQ) state committee chair Dr Deborah Bailey said demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic had caused a worldwide decline in material for sterilisation wrap, with 30 per cent…