Australian Ebola clinic to open on Sunday

An Australian-run Ebola treatment centre in West Africa will see its first patients on Sunday night.

Aspen Medical was awarded a multi-million federal contract to run a 100-bed British military field hospital in Sierra Leone, which will be staffed by Australian, New Zealand and local clinicians.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the centre near Freetown will begin its operations with five beds, but that number will gradually increase.

Ms Bishop also announced a $5 million increase in funding to the centre, bringing the total Australian contribution to $25 million.