MARION — The shortage of medical supplies has started to impact the town directly, as a company that had guaranteed its supplies was unable to provide them. 

Town Health Nurse Kathy Downey said at an Aug. 4 board of health meeting that she placed an order with McKesson Corporation for $8,000 worth of protective equipment, needles, gowns gloves and masks. At the time of the order the company said it would be able to fill the order. 

However, Downey then heard other health nurses talking about orders with the company that were denied, and noticed that Marion’s supplies were taking weeks to arrive. 

When she put some pressure on the company’s representatives they said that all of the items are either on backorder, or will not be shipped. 

Town Administrator Jay McGrail said that the town has enough protective equipment to get by at present, and is expecting a shipment from another supplier at the end of the week, meaning that the missed shipment won’t seriously impact the town’s supplies. 

Downey said that she will go to another supplier with the order if she can find one. 

She used McKesson because Marion had been using a medical supplier that was bought out by McKesson.