Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support and screening facilities his Department has provided for health service volunteers assisting with the Ebola virus crisis in West Africa.

The Department of Health is collaborating with a number of Government Departments, Agencies and non-governmental organisation partners to provide support and screening to health service volunteers assisting with the Ebola crisis in West Africa. This work is being managed by the Department for International Development in conjunction with UK Med.

UK Med run the UK International Emergency Medical, of UK surgeons, anaesthetists, emergency physicians/nurses and other supporting medical, nursing and paramedical staff. They ensure that those who volunteer for this programme of work are appropriately trained, prepared and accountable.

The programme comprises a robust selection process, pre-deployment preparations and occupational health and psychological screening, training in the United Kingdom with further training and mentoring in Sierra Leone, and advice and support from Public Health England on monitoring health on return.