Preparations have been made to convert part of a rehabilitation ward at Noble’s Hospital into isolation rooms in the unlikely event of an ebola outbreak here.
The plan was revealed by Health and Social Care Minister Howard Quayle when he was quizzed in the House of Keys over contingency funding for medical emergencies.
Mr Quayle said: ‘My department can respond to some emergencies within its financial reserves.
‘For example, we are spending an amount of money on ward 20 where we are going to have isolation rooms should there be an ebola outbreak, and then we are as prepared as possible.
‘I’ve ordered various protective clothing, boots, masks, visors, etc, so we are ready should that event happen. And that’s come from within our existing budget.’
Director of public health Dr Parameswaran Kishore stressed the chances of ebola arriving here were minimal as there is exit screening at airports in those West African countries where there is the disease and entry screening at UK airports. ‘None of these are foolproof,’ he added.
Dr Kishore said that if there was a suspected ebola case here, the patient would be held in isolation while the results of blood tests were awaited. If the tests came back positive, the patient would be transferred by RAF aircraft to the Royal Free Hospital in London.
He said those who volunteer to go out to West Africa to provide medical support in countries with ebola have to register their details and the island would be notified when they return. Not all will have had direct contact with ebola patients.
Detailed guidance has also been circulated to all medical staff including GPs, ambulance crews and A&E teams on what to do and when to suspect ebola.
An imported fever service hotline is available to help assess any risk, added Dr Kishore, who is due to retire next month.