easyJet crew volunteers will support NHS ExCeL field hospital

easyJet cabin crew volunteers will be supporting the NHS ExCeL field hospital to provide vital help as part of the country’s nationwide effort to support frontline clinical staff faced with battling the coronavirus pandemic currently impacting the UK. The NHS is enlisting the help of cabin crew in a bid to help staff new Nightingale hospitals.

Those who sign up will perform clinical support roles, under the close instruction of nurses and senior clinicians on the wards at the NHS Nightingale Hospitals across the country. The NHS has confirmed that they are being built in London, Birmingham and Manchester with other site being considered.

They will change beds, tend to patients and ensure they are as comfortable as possible. Many airline staff are ideal volunteers as they have been first aid trained and hold other medical qualifications as well as being security cleared. Expert training will be provided to all new recruits when they sign up. With the majority of flights currently suspended as a result of the pandemic, cabin crew will be able to put their unique skill set to use during this time to provide much needed support to the NHS. easyJet has around 4000 cabin crew in the UK across easyJet’s 11 bases up and down the UK.

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.”

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.”

Ashley Brown who has been a cabin crew member for easyJet for the past three years and formerly worked for the NHS, commented on why he has volunteered:

"I, like everyone, is so grateful to our NHS workers for all they are doing for the country. We all know how much pressure they are under right now and so when the appeal came for cabin crew to assist in the fight against Covid-19 I felt compelled to apply. Prior to joining easyJet I used to work for an NHS Trust so I know how valued the health service is and so feel passionate about supporting the NHS once again.

Cabin crew are in a good position to help because of the first aid training we receive for our job along with the security checks we undergo so I am sure I will be joined by so many of my fellow crew at easyJet and I am glad we are able to help.”

The airline has been working with the NHS to enable both its crew and head office communities to volunteer during this time, from mobilising highly-skilled crew volunteers to directly support clinical services in hospitals, to volunteering as an NHS responder.