Tributes were today paid to NHS volunteers who took part in the fight against the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa.
The accolades came as the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces (APPG(AF) arranged a ‘Welcome Home’ march into Parliament.
The parade was in recognition of the significant contribution of the NHS and Public Health in the preparedness and response to Ebola, and included civilians as well as military personnel.
All three military services marched alongside PHE volunteers, NHS staff and volunteers and DFID staff as the parade made its way from Horse Guards, down Whitehall, to the Palace of Westminster.
As the parade took place, praise was heaped on the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals who were involved in giving care to victims both in Sierra Leone and in Britain.
Sir Bruce Keogh, National Medical Director, NHS England said:
“I am incredibly proud of the way in which the NHS responded to the Ebola outbreak. Our calls for volunteers to help in Sierra Leone received an amazing response, and over the course of the outbreak more than 150 NHS staff worked at Ebola centres in the country.
At the same time, we were also able to set up dedicated infectious disease centres around this country, staffed by highly trained teams of doctors and nurses prepared and ready to accept potential Ebola cases.This work is testament to the commitment and dedication of doctors, nurses and other health professionals across the NHS, who work incredibly hard to provide all our patients with the care and treatment they need.”