TUI crew to join St John Ambulance volunteers
TUI Airways cabin crew are to sign up as St John Ambulance volunteers to help relieve pressure on the NHS during the coronavirus crisis.
Following two days of training, they will be placed in hospital wards and departments across the UK to free up staff to deal with Covid-19 patients.
Some of TUI’s 2,400 crew will support a range of tasks, from caring for the elderly to basic monitoring of patients, transporting medication and maintaining cleanliness and hygiene.
Jon Knight, director at St John Ambulance, said: "We’re delighted to work in partnership with TUI to create opportunities for first aid trained staff to volunteer for St John Ambulance to support their local communities and reduce pressure on the NHS.
"We really need more businesses to let their trained staff volunteer in this crisis. St John Ambulance needs the support of the public, businesses and clarity from the government to let volunteers volunteer more than ever as we enter our biggest operation in our 143-year history."
TUI Airways’ MD Dawn Wilson said: "Our cabin crew are uniquely placed to support this scheme. Of course, their first aid training will be an advantage, but the most important skills are the ability to keep calm under pressure, have a real empathy for people who need support and be ready to put a patient’s welfare first. This could be a job advert for TUI cabin crew who have all these abilities in abundance"
TUI Airways flew home its final passengers last weekend and operations are now paused until travel restrictions can be relaxed.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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