Tag: Project Wingman

Airline crew lands at Sick Kids to boost staff wellbeing

Frontline workers from Edinburgh’s Sick Kids hospital are being treated to a ‘first-class lounge’ experience, thanks to a new initiative by grounded airline pilots and cabin crew.

Project Wingman is a group of airline staff who are volunteering at UK hospitals while furloughed or grounded because of the pandemic. They are offering NHS workers the chance to relax and unwind in a lounge setting similar to what first-class passengers enjoy at airports.

Now, in addition to visits to Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary, the crew has landed at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children (RHSC) where they will visit the Staff Wellbeing Lounge every week for “Wingman Wednesdays”.

Over a 12-hour shift, the volunteers will provide a relaxing environment, treating staff to refreshments, snacks and friendly conversation.

The Project Wingman visits have been made possible thanks to essential funding from Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC), which supports and complements the work of the RHSC.

Roslyn Neely, CEO of ECHC, said: “We are thrilled that the amazing crew from Project Wingman have now landed at the hospital and will be visiting our Wellbeing Lounge every Wednesday.

“The NHS heroes of the Sick Kids are working incredibly hard to provide first class care for children, young people and their families during this difficult time. Now more than ever we need to look after those who look after us so it’s wonderful that the aircrew volunteers are giving the hospital teams the ‘first-class lounge’ experience that they so deserve.

“This is an amazing initiative and we would like to say a huge thank you to all the Project Wingman volunteers for so generously giving up their time to support frontline workers and for helping them to relax and unwind when they need it most.”

The Edinburgh hospital visits are run and managed by Captain Paul Singleton, a pilot who has experienced the vital work of the RHSC staff first hand.

Paul said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Project Wingman was able to extend our reach into the wonderful Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital.

“My boy had a major operation at the Sick Kids and the care he received undoubtedly saved his life. When you are touched by our wonderful NHS, you never forget it. It’s a debt of gratitude I’m happy to repay.

“Our volunteers are delighted to bring our First Class Lounge experience to the world class staff at the Sick Kids. “Wingman Wednesdays” will be a lovely way to say thank you to our NHS heroes.”

Project Wingman is just one of a number of things that ECHC is funding to support hospital staff wellbeing during the pandemic.

The charity has created the Staff Wellbeing Lounge at the RHSC and is distributing Wellbeing Boxes, filled with treats and pick-me-ups – to teams at the hospital as well as other healthcare settings across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

The charity is running a COVID-19 Emergency Appeal to support children, families and staff through the pandemic. Donations can be made online at https://echcharity.org/support-us/covid-19-appeal

For more information on Project Wingman: https://www.projectwingman.co.uk/

Project Wingman takes off at Royal Infirmary Edinburgh

Staff at the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh are set to receive the first class treatment as the latest Project Wingman lounge opens on site.

The facility, which is run by pilots and crew from across every UK airline, will provide a space for staff to unwind, de-compress and de-stress before, during and after their shifts.

The lounge, the first of which to open in Scotland, takes inspiration from the ‘first-class lounge’ experience and will offer a relaxing and friendly environment where staff can be treated to refreshments such as teas and coffee, as well as light snacks.

The Edinburgh facility is part of a UK wide initiative spearheaded by British Airways pilot and captain Dave Fielding, Emma Henderson, an EasyJet pilot, and Prof Rob Bor, a psychologist at the Royal Free hospital in London.

While a light-hearted nod to the movie Top Gun, the initiative aims to provide support for staff who are busy providing first-class care for patients.

Furloughed, grounded, or made redundant by the COVID-19 crisis, the aircrews involved are all volunteering their time to put a smile on faces, while offering a much needed space for rest and relaxation.

Inga Cosway, Healthy Working Lives Co-ordinator, Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, said that across NHS Lothian, work has been ongoing to provide a range of facilities and support for staff. This has included the provision of a number of support helplines, as well as quiet spaces for staff to use.

Inga said, “We are delighted to welcome airline crew to our forces here at the Royal Infirmary. The Project Wingman lounge will provide a welcome space for colleagues to pause, reflect and unwind as together we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Most of us will never have experienced the luxury of a first-class lounge, but I know that staff are delighted to have this facility available to them and cannot wait to meet the captain and his crew.  We are grateful to the Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation who have provided essential funding to make this happen.”

The Edinburgh facility, is being run and managed by Captain Paul Singleton, a pilot with Virgin Atlantic. Paul said that he wanted to give something back to NHS staff after personally seeing the work that they do day in and day out.

Paul said: “Like many others I wanted to do something to help and support the NHS at this critical time. My son had a major operation at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh and I cannot thank staff enough for the outstanding care that he received. I was in awe of NHS staff before the COVID-19 crisis hit, but now, more than ever I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks and admiration.

“As aircrew, we are highly trained, well organised & excellent communicators. Using these skills we hope to support every member of staff at the Royal Infirmary, who are working tirelessly as we navigate the uncharted territories that COVID-19 is presenting us with.”

The Project Wingman lounge is available for all staff and is open daily from 7am – 9pm.

Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “This is an excellent initiative run by pilots and crew from airlines across the UK to use their skills and experience to support NHS staff at this challenging time.

“NHS frontline staff are going above and beyond every single day, putting themselves at risk to care for everyone, and it is more important than ever to look after those who look after us.

“The incredible efforts made by all NHS staff during this period must be recognised not just now, but also in the future, by continuing to support those who are risking everything for us.”