A team from the Royal Free London have shared their experiences of treating the Ebola virus at an international conference hosted by the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (BACCN).

The presentation was delivered by a group of nursing staff from the Royal Free Hospital including Jane Woollard, the head of nursing for emergency and critical care, Breda Athan, lead nurse for the high level isolation unit and matron for infectious diseases, and Oliver Carpenter, clinical practice educator.

The presenting team was also joined by Will Pooley, who shared his experience of being treated for Ebola following his infection while volunteering in Sierra Leone.

The BACCN conference took place on 7 and 8 September in London, and focused on the theme of delivering high quality and safe critical care services.

Jane Woollard, head of nursing for emergency and critical care, said: “It was a real privilege for us to be invited to give the keynote speech at the BACCN conference.

“Not only did it give us the opportunity to share the valuable experience we gained by treating patients with Ebola, it was also a chance to recognise the fantastic way staff at the hospital came together to give the patients the care they needed.”

The presentation, ‘Delivering world class care to Ebola patients’, discussed the operational and clinical challenges posed by treating patients with Ebola and the personal experiences of staff who worked in the high level isolation unit.

Images: Jane Woollard, head of nursing for emergency and critical care (top right) and Oliver Carpenter, clinical practice educator (bottom left) at the BACCN conference.

ENDS

Notes to editors

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About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver, kidney and bone marrow transplantation, haemophilia, renal, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London.