Furloughed Virgin Atlantic and easyjet cabin crew have been encouraged to support the NHS by becoming volunteers at new hospitals up and down the country.
The airlines have contacted the grounded workers, asking them to consider signing up to help at the new Nightingale hospital in East London, and others being built in Birmingham and Manchester, in anticipation of soaring numbers of patients affected by Covid-19.
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easyJet has written to all 9,000 of its UK-based staff, including 4,000 CPR-trained cabin crew. Virgin Atlantic is getting in touch with 4,000 employees, with a focus on those with the most relevant skills and training.
Staff and volunteers working at the new hospitals will be offered free accommodation. Those staying in hotels will also have breakfast provided, plus lunch or dinner depending on their shift pattern. Staff who volunteer will be given the appropriate safety equipment.
Helping hands
“The NHS approached us with this unique opportunity as they recognise the value and experience our medically trained cabin crew and trainers will bring to the incredible Nightingale hospital initiative.”
Corneel Koster, chief customer officer at Virgin Atlantic
Those who sign up will perform clinical support roles, such as changing beds and tending to patients, under the close instruction of nurses and senior clinicians on the wards at the hospitals.
Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: “Many airline staff are first aid trained or hold other clinical qualifications as well as being security cleared, while NHS clinicians will oversee their work – with expert training provided to all new recruits when they sign-up.”
“We have all needed the NHS at some point in our lives and so we are so proud that our crew can now help to support the NHS at this crucial time,”
Tina Milton, director of cabin services for easyJet.
Corneel Koster, chief customer officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: “We are very grateful to the NHS for everything they are doing in extremely challenging circumstances and we’re committed to doing all we can to support the national effort against the rapid acceleration of Covid-19.
“We are very proud of our highly skilled people at Virgin Atlantic and since the government’s Coronavirus job retention scheme was announced, we have been inundated with our employees looking to help other organisations at this time of crisis.”
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