NHS doctors and nurses practise their medical skills at the Army's Ebola training facility, near York. Both visibility and ease-of-movement is more limited when wearing the full safety suits needed, so it is essential to practise routine tasks before deployment.

The facility is a replica of the British-built Ebola treatment centres the medics will join in Sierra Leone. Temperatures are also raised to 30°C to simulate the same working conditions.

"It feels very hot and restrictive in the protective suits – and it makes communication difficult," says nurse Donna Wood.

"As a nurse and carer, you’re used to talking and reassuring people: verbal and non-verbal communication is important."

"But in the suit, you’ve not even got much eye-contact, so it’s difficult. But it’s something you adapt to, you get used to it."

More than 30 doctors, nurses and medics from across the UK's National Health Service are joining Britain's fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone.

The NHS volunteers have spent 9 days training at the Army Medical Services Training Centre, at Strensall near York in preparation.

The group - which includes GPs, nurses, clinicians, psychiatrists and consultants in emergency medicine - will work on testing, diagnosing and treating people who have contracted the deadly virus.

They will work in British-built treatment centres across the country, which when full, will triple Sierra Leone’s bed capacity.

Find out more about the UK's fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone at: www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/ebola-virus-governme...

Picture: Simon Davis/DFID

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