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Ebola outbreak: Government sends 30 NHS staff to help Ebola fight Ebola outbreak: Government sends 30 NHS staff to help Ebola fight
(35 minutes later)
The first co-ordinated group of NHS staff are due to fly from London to Sierra Leone to help in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus. The first co-ordinated group of NHS staff are preparing to fly from London to Sierra Leone to help in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus.
Around 30 GPs, nurses, psychiatrists and emergency medicine consultants are being sent to the West African country's capital, Freetown.Around 30 GPs, nurses, psychiatrists and emergency medicine consultants are being sent to the West African country's capital, Freetown.
There they will complete a week's training before starting work in Ebola treatment centres across the country.There they will complete a week's training before starting work in Ebola treatment centres across the country.
The Ebola virus has killed more than 5,000 people in the current outbreak.The Ebola virus has killed more than 5,000 people in the current outbreak.
This is the first wave of NHS volunteers to be deployed by the UK government.This is the first wave of NHS volunteers to be deployed by the UK government.
The healthcare professionals will be diagnosing and treating those who have contracted the virus.The healthcare professionals will be diagnosing and treating those who have contracted the virus.
'Make a difference' Donna Wood, senior sister at Haywood Hospital in Staffordshire, said: "I'd been following the stories on the news so when I saw an email from the NHS highlighting the Ebola situation in Sierra Leone, and calling for volunteers, I felt I had to act.
Donna Wood, senior sister at Haywood Hospital in Staffordshire, who is among the volunteers, said: "I'd been following the stories on the news so when I saw an email from the NHS highlighting the Ebola situation in Sierra Leone, and calling for volunteers, I felt I had to act.
"I knew I could use the skills I've got to make a difference and join a team to help bring the disease under control.""I knew I could use the skills I've got to make a difference and join a team to help bring the disease under control."
Ms Wood said she had received "gold standard" training.Ms Wood said she had received "gold standard" training.
She added: "We're very lucky in this country to have the NHS, the staff and the skills - it's just not the case everywhere else.She added: "We're very lucky in this country to have the NHS, the staff and the skills - it's just not the case everywhere else.
"My parents and the whole family are proud of my decision to go.""My parents and the whole family are proud of my decision to go."
The NHS volunteers have been preparing for deployment with intensive training at a Ministry of Defence facility in York. Emotional scenes at Heathrow
Megan Bramall, BBC News
As the GPs, nurses, psychiatrists and emergency medicine consultants wait at the check-in desk there's one thing they all say they'll miss: Human touch.
Julie Flaherty, a consultant nurse from Salford Royal Hospital has tears in her eyes as she says she will miss hugging her husband after a long day.
"That will be a challenge," she says.
Cath Nixon, a public health nurse from Oldham, echoes this.
"I think sometimes when you're having a difficult day then sometimes it's that what you need. A hug. And we won't have that."
The oldest volunteer heading to Sierra Leone, Dr Gordon Gancz says the group has come up with a novel way to mark Christmas Day.
"We plan to put on our full protective equipment to give each other a Christmas hug."
The NHS volunteers have been preparing with intensive training at a Ministry of Defence facility in York.
More teams of volunteers are set to leave in the coming weeks after hundreds came forward to offer their services.More teams of volunteers are set to leave in the coming weeks after hundreds came forward to offer their services.
Gareth Ross, a paramedic from Yorkshire, told the BBC he had "never experienced anything like" the sense of morale and teamwork felt during the training. Gareth Ross, a paramedic from Yorkshire, said he had "never experienced anything like" the sense of morale and teamwork felt during the training.
"As paramedics we're often going into the unknown, sometimes in hostile environments. It's just a matter of applying that to a different situation," he said."As paramedics we're often going into the unknown, sometimes in hostile environments. It's just a matter of applying that to a different situation," he said.
Consultant psychiatrist and volunteer Dr Martin Deahl told the BBC: "Someone has to do this job and if we don't do it there, it's going to get here. Consultant psychiatrist and volunteer Dr Martin Deahl said: "Someone has to do this job and if we don't do it there, it's going to get here.
"I'm going to be looking after people's mental health and mental wellbeing. It's going to be fairly traumatic by any standards, but the way you do that is to set an example and roll your sleeves up," he said. "I'm going to be looking after people's mental health and mental wellbeing. It's going to be fairly traumatic by any standards, but the way you do that is to set an example and roll your sleeves up.
"I'm one of the older members of the group and it's just standing up to the general physical challenges that makes me a little nervous.""I'm one of the older members of the group and it's just standing up to the general physical challenges that makes me a little nervous."
'Commitment' Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies said she had been "impressed" by the numbers of workers who had stepped forward to help communities devastated by Ebola.
Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies said: "I have been really impressed with the numbers of NHS workers who have stepped forward to help the communities that have been devastated by Ebola. "The fact that more than 1,000 have come forward so far is a real testament to their commitment to public service," she said.
"The fact that more than 1,000 have come forward so far is a real testament to their commitment to public service."
Speaking from Freetown, head of the the UK's Department of International Development (DFID) Joanna Reid told the BBC that Sierra Leonne was "absolutely determined to fight" Ebola.Speaking from Freetown, head of the the UK's Department of International Development (DFID) Joanna Reid told the BBC that Sierra Leonne was "absolutely determined to fight" Ebola.
"[Volunteers] will be looked after buy NGOs that are experienced in this country, have been working here and also have a sense of team spirit," she said."[Volunteers] will be looked after buy NGOs that are experienced in this country, have been working here and also have a sense of team spirit," she said.
She added that the facilities contributed by the UK would include 700 beds.
Prof Tony Redmond, head of the charity UK-Med, which has organised the health workers' deployment, said he was proud of all the "selfless volunteers".Prof Tony Redmond, head of the charity UK-Med, which has organised the health workers' deployment, said he was proud of all the "selfless volunteers".
There are now 1,000 British military personnel, scientists, healthcare and aid workers helping to tackle the outbreak in West Africa, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said.There are now 1,000 British military personnel, scientists, healthcare and aid workers helping to tackle the outbreak in West Africa, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said.
She added: "To beat Ebola we desperately need the experience and dedication of skilled doctors and nurses to care for the thousands of sick and dying patients who are not receiving the treatment they need. She added: "Every one of these NHS heroes will play a vital role in the fight against Ebola.
"Every one of these NHS heroes will play a vital role in the fight against Ebola.
"It is only because of their combined efforts that we stand a chance of defeating this disease.""It is only because of their combined efforts that we stand a chance of defeating this disease."