Hunter New England Health will install security cameras in hospital store rooms to stop the theft of critical protective equipment.
HNEH chief executive Michael DiRienzo told staff in a message on Tuesday that "large volumes of stock" were going missing from the district's hospitals.
"CCTV security will now be installed in equipment stores, to ensure that our staff and patients can continue to have access to these very valuable resources," he wrote.
He said HNEH was "continuing to experience supply issues" for some personal protective equipment (PPE) items, a problem he said was common to health services across Australia.
"While we have put measures in place to conserve PPE, we are still seeing large volumes of stock going missing from some of our facilities," Mr DiRienzo wrote.
"I ask that everyone please consider your colleagues and patients at this time, and be responsible with the PPE we have available."
Meanwhile, HNEH reported on Wednesday that a first child under the age of 10 had tested positive in the district.
The three-year-old girl, who was displaying mild symptoms, had contracted the virus from her parents and already had been in home isolation.
"The child's diagnosis is a timely reminder young people are susceptible to the virus," HNEH said.
"While their symptoms are generally mild, it is still important to ensure children abide by social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to more vulnerable people in their own families and the wider community."
HNEH said no one under the age of 18 had yet required hospitalisation in the district.
The three-year-old was among six new cases added to the health district's coronavirus tally in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday. The total now stands at 254.
HNEH hospitals are treating 12 COVID-19 patients, including five in intensive care. These numbers remain unchanged from Tuesday.
Mr DiRienzo said in his message to staff that all patients tested for the coronavirus at HNEH clinics could now access negative test results by text.
Patients could register for the NSW Health Pathology SMS service after taking a test, which would ease the burden on hospital staff and laboratory teams inundated with calls from people chasing results.
NSW Health reported 48 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, bringing the state total to 2734.
Two per cent of the 129,091 people tested have been found to be carrying the coronavirus.
Across the state, 36 patients are in intensive care and 22 on ventilators.
A teacher at Middle Harbour Public School in Sydney is among the new confirmed cases in NSW, along with three staff members at two eastern suburbs schools who are linked socially.
The three are linked to Bronte Public School and Waverley Public School.
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