UK Airlines Ask Cabin Crew to Help Medical Staff Amid Coronavirus Crisis

The U.K. Air service is reportedly in the process of converting its cabin crews into medical personnel amid growing Coronavirus concerns.

Since the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus a pandemic, different countries have taken several measures to curb the spread of the virus.

A couple of days ago, the NHS enlisted the help of EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic to aid its medical personnel at the new Nightingale infirmaries.

As a result of this, the air services are recalling staff who have had to stay home since the virus went full scale and made air travel impossible, to consider lending a helping hand to thousands of health care workers in new hospitals built across the country.

According to reports from the NHS, EasyJet already sent letters to about 9,000 of its staff based in the U.K. The team includes close to 4,000 cabin crew trained in case of medical emergencies.

Virgin Atlantic has also made similar moves; on March 30, they reportedly started writing employees, starting with those that possess the skills and training required.

Those who answer the call will provide support under the strict supervision of senior clinicians and certified nurses on the wards at the Nightingale health facilities all over the country.

Koster added that their cargo business is also working tirelessly to keep the global supply chain running.

The volunteer workers will work side by side with experienced health care workers, helping out with tasks and aiding doctors and nurses in treating infected victims.

According to Ruth May, the chief nursing officer for England, the magnitude of the challenge the pandemic is posing will require all the support they can get.

The chief nursing officer encouraged individuals who can't provide support to stay at home and safe to curb the spread of the virus.

Though airline staff is well trained in delivering first aid in case of emergency, the NHS clinicians will allegedly provide expert training to the recruits when they volunteer. Tina Milton, Director of Cabin Services for EasyJet, had this to say concerning the topic:

"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... at this crucial time."

Corneel Koster, Chief Customer Officer at Virgin Atlantic, also commended the NHS for all their efforts while sharing that they would also do everything in their power to provide help in the form of their trained personnel.

Koster added that their cargo business is also working tirelessly to keep the global supply chain running to aid the transport of essential medical supplies into the U.K.

Staff and volunteers that will be working in the newly built healthcare facilities will be offered free boarding as well as breakfast, lunch, or dinner, depending on the shifts they work.