NHS volunteer from Wales to tackle Ebola in Sierra Leone

Dr James Lavers at Heathrow ahead of his flight to Sierra Leone Credit: James Lavers

An NHS volunteer from Wales is flying to Sierra Leone today to help fight Ebola.

Dr James Lavers is part of the first group of NHS volunteers to be deployed by the UK Government.

Mr Lavers, 37, works as an Intensive Care Registrar from Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.

He will complete a week of training before joining British-built Ebola treatment centres across the country.

Mr Lavers is part of a group that includes GPs, nurses, clinicians, and psychiatrists. They will be setting up procedures as well as diagnosing and treating people who have contracted the deadly virus.

Volunteers such as Mr Lavers have been praised for their bravery in choosing to travel to the worst affected areas.

Volunteers learn what's needed to tackle the spread of Ebola Credit: DFID
The skills learned will be put to use in west Africa Credit: DFID

The deployment of NHS volunteers is part of wider UK efforts to control, contain and defeat Ebola. So far the UK has committed £230 million to the response in Sierra Leone.

The first group of UK government-backed volunteers prepare to fly out.