Ebola: Queen’s Hospital outlines measures taken to prepare

Disposable stethoscopes and cutlery have been sourced by Queen’s Hospital to prepare for suspected cases of Ebola.

Staff in several departments including A&E have also been given face-to-face refresher training on how to deal with the disease, which has killed more than 4,000 so far - mainly in west Africa.

Other disposable equipment such as face masks and blood pressure cuffs has also been acquired.

There have been no cases in the UK, but health bosses have issued guidance on how hospitals like Queen’s can make sure they are prepared.

Ian Hosein, director of infection prevention at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT), said: “It is important that people understand that Ebola is not an airborne virus, so it cannot be spread without extremely close contact.

“However, we are fully prepared to deal with any suspected cases, as are our colleagues in community care. The UK has an established, well-tested system for dealing with any known or suspected cases of the disease.”

On Tuesday, Public Health England began screening passengers for Ebola at Heathrow Airport, which health secretary Jeremy Hunt on Monday said receives the majority of arrivals from affected parts of west Africa.

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