Vital signs:
- Ebola patient transferred to Royal Free Hospital in London
- Another returning healthcare worker being assessed in Aberdeen
- Contact tracking underway among airplane passengers
A patient being treated for Ebola at Gartnavel hospital in Glasgow has been transferred to Royal Free Hospital in London.
The health care worker, who had been helping combat the disease in west Africa, travelled to London overnight, in line with Scottish and UK protocol.
There are also precautionary steps being taken by NHS Highland and NHS Grampian around a case of a returning healthcare worker in Torridon, which is assessed as ‘low probability’ of Ebola. The patient is being transferred by the Scottish Ambulance Service to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and diagnostic tests – including for Ebola – will take place today.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has chaired another meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) to ensure all necessary steps are being taken. She also took part in the COBR teleconference today and spoke to Prime Minister David Cameron. The Scottish and UK Governments are working closely to ensure a co-ordinated response.
Ms Sturgeon said:
“Our thoughts remain with the patient diagnosed with Ebola and I wish her a speedy and full recovery.
“We have robust measures in place to deal with a situation like this. Scotland’s NHS has proved it is well able to cope with infectious diseases in the past, such as swine flu. In treating the patient effectively, and then ensuring a smooth transfer to the Royal Free London, our NHS has again risen to the considerable challenge. I want to thank all involved in Scotland and England for their considerable efforts so far.
“Health Protection Scotland are continuing to trace and contact people who were on the Heathrow to Glasgow flight on Sunday evening. Many of those people have already been contacted and, while that’s been done very much on a precautionary basis, it is important we ensure we have taken all necessary steps as a result of this confirmed case.
“I am also being kept fully informed about the precautionary steps being taken by NHS Highland and NHS Grampian around a case of a returning healthcare worker who had been visiting Torridon. This patient is a ‘low probability’ case, who returned to the UK separately to the confirmed case and is believed to have had no contact with infected patients. However we are taking all necessary precautions and following agreed protocols. Over the course of today, the patient will be transferred to the ARI and undergo the appropriate tests – including for Ebola.
“The last 24 hours have been a real reminder of how often and how selflessly health care workers do put themselves at risk to help others and they deserve our gratitude and respect for that. I would also like to thank everyone that is involved in helping throughout Scotland.”