An entire box of masks was stolen from Wimmera Medical Centre and others have been taken "sporadically" from the emergency department at Wimmera Base Hospital amid the coronavirus outbreak.
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Chief executive Catherine Morley said in a press release that she understood community concerns but taking essential items from a health service was not acceptable.
"In the Emergency Department if someone comes in and they have respiratory symptoms they put a mask on - some people have taken extra to use at home," Ms Morley said.
"We need to ensure there is enough PPE for our staff. The main thing for is for us to ensure our team members are safe."
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Emergency Department nurse unit manager Odette Richards said in a press release that personal protective equipment would not protect people if they didn't understand the correct techniques for putting on and removing it.
"Our team members are trained in the correct way to put on and remove personal protective equipment to ensure that if the equipment, such as a mask, is contaminated there is not cross contamination when it is taken off," Ms Richards said.
"General community are not trained in this, so taking equipment from us, where it is needed, won't necessarily increase their safety."
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