NHS nightingale carers to be boosted by airline cabin crew

The NHS has enlisted easyJet and Virgin Atlantic to work alongside NHS clinicians at new Nightingale hospitals as part of the fight against coronavirus.

The two airlines are asking staff who have not been working since the coronavirus pandemic grounded some planes to consider helping the thousands of doctors, nurses and other medics at the new hospitals being built across the country.

So far, easyJet has written to all 9,000 of its UK based staff, which includes 4,000 cabin crew who are trained in CPR, while Virgin Atlantic is set to write to approximately 4,000 of their employees from 30 March, prioritising those with the required skills and training. Those who sign up will perform support roles, under the close instruction of nurses and senior clinicians on the wards at the NHS Nightingale Hospitals across the country.

Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: “Nurses, doctors and other vital health and social care staff are working day and night to provide the best possible care to patients as the NHS continues to fight this global health pandemic. The NHS is mobilising like never before, but the scale of this challenge has not been seen in peacetime so we need all the support we can get.

“Thousands of nurses, medics and other expert staff are returning to work alongside us, but we need everyone to do their bit – whether that is working in one of our current health or social care services, working in the Nightingale Hospital, volunteering to help the NHS or following government advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”

Tina Milton, director of Cabin Services for easyJet, commented: “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. The NHS is at the forefront of dealing with this health emergency but the training and skills our cabin crew have, working closely with the medical professionals, could help make a real difference.”

Corneel Koster, Chief Customer Officer at Virgin Atlantic, added: “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.”

Staff and volunteers working at the new hospitals will also be offered free accommodation.