I am a Senior Nurse (Practice Development Infection Prevention and Control).

My Fellowship, High Level Isolation for High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCIDs), was an international review of high level isolation units (HLIUs) to establish best practice in controlling high consequence infectious diseases, such as Ebola. This involved visiting nine high level isolation units in Europe and the USA.

As Newcastle Hospitals Infectious Diseases Unit is one of the designated places in the UK to provide high level isolation, it is important to ensure that processes within it are safe and based on the latest and proven guidance and experience.

The findings from the Fellowship have helped to inform national guidance on personal protective equipment and designing new HLIUs to incorporate the best features of all the units visited.

Undertaking the Fellowship has improved my knowledge and experience in HCID patient management, safer practices and best facilities. I have also now developed an international network of experts in this field.

Recent events have highlighted the importance of national preparedness for HCIDs to prevent the risk of transmission of dangerous infections and the need for international collaboration.