Project Wingman is a group of current and former aircrew from all corners of aviation, united by profession and dedicated to serving our NHS staff now and in the future. Providing a space to unwind, de-compress and de-stress before, during and after hospital shifts, in support of staff wellbeing. Since NHS workers give first class treatment to their patients, our ‘First Class Lounges’ are our way of giving NHS staff the treatment they deserve.
Captain Emma Henderson CEO of Project Wingman, received a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year Honours List 2021. I had signed up to PW last year during lockdown and on furlough but some of the hospitals nearest to me had declined the option to have a lounge. As 2021 started national Lockdown some more opted in, St Peter's in Chertsey on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11am -3pm, and Ashford Hospitals on Tuesday and Thursday, have now been open for 2 weeks and will be rostered to continue through the next months as long as we are welcome. I collected my ID and car park pass, then someone kindly directed me in the corridor to the Blue Room in the Education Centre - conveniently located near the staff canteen and coffee shop, there were 3 of us who were there for our first shift, we followed the set up brief, before our Team Leader came in to show us around our area. Generally we offer hot beverages, squash, cupcakes and biscuits, with socially distanced seating around the Blue Room. We had 3 early customers from Cardiology come in while it was quiet start for their day, and the pace picked up fairly consistent to the end.
The feedback all day was gratitude to us, but I reverted that to them thanks for being our frontline staff working so hard and with such dedication. As volunteers, we have been offered the vaccination which I am booked in for next week at Chertsey House vaccination centre which is manned by a large proportion of furloughed crew from Virgin and BA.