Doctor returns to wards after Ebola isolation

  • Wales
Nathalie MacDermott went to Africa to help treat Ebola patients and was in isolation for three weeks as a precaution after she returned. Credit: Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board

A Swansea doctor who took leave to travel to treat Ebola patients in Africa, is back on the wards after three weeks in isolation.

Specialist registrar Nathalie MacDermott flew to Liberia last month to help at a centre which quarantined and cared for Ebola patients. The 32 year old, who works in Singleton Hospital's neonatal unit, treated between 50 and 100 patients during her time there, but only three survived.

She says media reports of the outbreak were not 'overblown' and she felt the situation was 'spiralling out of control' when she arrived.

During her time at the centre, two fellow volunteers contracted Ebola. Nathalie did not develop any symptoms, but when she returned home to Wales, she kept herself isolated in her Cardiff flat for three-weeks on the advice of Public Health Wales.

Since being given the all clear, Nathalie has returned to the wards at Singleton Hospital and says she wouldn't hesitate to go back to Africa.