Furloughed cabin crew host pop-up lounges at West Sussex hospitals to help staff unwind

A project which brings pilots and cabin crews together to support NHS staff has taken off at Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.
Cabin crew at the hospitalCabin crew at the hospital
Cabin crew at the hospital

Project Wingman has seen furloughed, grounded or redundant UK airline personnel volunteer at lounges set up at the hospitals where staff can relax and unwind.

The airline volunteers are all trained to communicate in stressful situations.

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Former cabin crew Sarah Skelton joined Project Wingman eight weeks ago.

Cabin crew at the hospitalCabin crew at the hospital
Cabin crew at the hospital

She said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to come to Western Sussex Hospitals.

“We never thought Project Wingman would carry on for so long but when you talk to our volunteers they want to put something back into their local hospital.

“Either their children were born here or a family member has been ill and they always say how beautifully well they were cared for. This is our chance to say thank you.”

The lounges are open for any staff member to use and enjoy.

Matron Keely Head said it was ‘a lovely treat’.

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“The volunteers are so friendly and welcoming,” she said. “It is a nice safe haven to come away for 10-15 minutes out of the day and not have to think about your work.”

Chief nurse Maggie Davies was present at both launches. She said: “We are so grateful to Project Wingman for opening up lounges for staff at Western Sussex Hospitals.

“The generosity of the airline crew volunteering in Worthing and Chichester is humbling.

“The lounges are proving extremely popular and it’s great to see colleagues from our hospitals and the airline industry talk to each other and share experiences.

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“Project Wingman is a brilliant initiative I wish to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone involved.”

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