Health protection during the Ebola crisis: the Defence Medical Services approach

Abstract

This paper is a narrative of the policies, procedures, mitigations and observations of the application of Force Health Protection measures applied by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the deployment of military personnel to West Africa as part of the UK contribution to the international response to the Ebola crisis from July 2014 to July 2015. The MOD divided the threat into three risk categories: risk from disease and non-battle injury, Ebola risk for non-clinical duties and Ebola risk for healthcare workers. Overall risk management was directed and monitored by the OP GRITROCK Force Health Protection Board. There were six cases of malaria, four outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease, two needlestick injuries in Ebola-facing healthcare workers, one MOD Ebola case and five non-needlestick, high-risk exposures. This experience reinforces the requirement for the Defence Medical Services to have a high level of organisational competence to advise on Force Health Protection for the MOD.

The Royal Navy Operating Department Practitioner: Perioperative care on land and sea

“…The same problems occur for the role 2 afloat custodian. Whilst conducting Op GRITROCK, in addition to medical personnel, RFA ARGUS also held a complement of Flight Crew to operate the Merlin helicopters and Royal Marines who undertook Force Protection duties, thus restricting available space (Bricknell et al 2016).…”

Foreword to the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations special issue of BMJ Military Health

“…However, providing humanitarian care is not just about transferring the medical skills that an individual has acquired in their career in a non-humanitarian setting. Indeed, healthcare provision is low down on the list of the priorities for intervention and public health measures are to the fore, such as shelter, clean water, safe food and health protection 3…”

Dispatches from the editor: Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR)

“…These skills include both the organisation and provision of medical care. This has been further enhanced by Defence Engagement in Pakistan11 and supporting the response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone 12. One large focus of knowledge is in the management of explosive and ballistic trauma which civilian clinicians in the UK are currently unlikely to experience on a regular basis 13.…”