Paramedic in Sierra Leone Ebola mission

Pete Simpson, a paramedic from Thorpe Marriott, Norfolk, has travelled to Sierra Leone to join the emergency aid mission fighting Ebola in west Africa.

The 51-year-old, who arrived in Sierra Leone on Saturday (25^th October), will be co-ordinating a local ambulance team in the Ebola control and command centre in the country’s capital, Freetown.

“I have a little bit of excitement and a little bit of fear but I think I can do something good,” said Pete, who is based at the Hellesden training centre in Norwich.

As ambulance co-ordinator, Pete’s duties will include running the call centre, overseeing the collection of laboratory tests, distributing results and medical supplies, mapping patient contacts, managing burial teams and planning deliveries to isolation units.

Pete is one of 800 NHS staff to volunteer in west Africa, originally signing up with UK-Med, which is coordinating NHS staff overseas. His experience as a senior paramedic led to him being chosen for service by the King’s Sierra Leone Partnership, which provides training, policy, research and clinical services.

Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said: “I am immensely proud that Pete will be providing clinical leadership as ambulance coordinator working in the Ebola command centre. As we know with these vital roles, it takes a very special kind of person to be prepared to leave their loved ones and their life behind to play their part in building and strengthening the local health system.

“I know Pete would not have taken this decision lightly, given the risks involved in working in such an environment, but it’s very clear that Sierra Leone as with other affected areas needs more and more support from us. On behalf of the service, I have given him my very best wishes and we will be in regular contact with him during his crucial work there.” 

To read a blog from Pete about his journey and his time in Sierra Leone, visit the Trust’s Wordpress site.

Published 31st October 2014