NHS staff asked 'to volunteer' to treat Ebola victims in Africa

Staff has received letters from NHS leaders asking them to volunteer to treat Ebola victims in Africa.

16:38 22 September 2014

NHS leaders, which include the four most senior medical officers of the organisaton are appealing to NHS doctors, nurses and paramedics to volunteer to treat Ebola victims in Sierra Leone and to staff a new hospital that is being set up by the British military.

 

The facility is being set up to include a 12-bed unit for infected health care workers and 50-bed unit for ordinary citizens infected with the deadly virus. 

 

The letter signed by chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies, NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh, Prof Paul Cosford, medical director at Public Health England and Jane Cummings, chief nursing officer said: "Roles that may be required include medical practitioners, nursing staff, paramedics, pharmacists, psychologists, health information managers,logisticians and outreach managers. Examples of the roles required can be found on the UK-Med website.

 

"Initial help is requested from those with previous experience but we anticipate that as the situation develops, those with generic skills will be welcomed.

 

"Please do consider volunteering."

 

The letter lists down the requirements and the process on how to organise leave with their respective organisation at home. 

 

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the deadliest so far with 2,622 deaths. Countries affected are Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.