Project Wingman landed at Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital and aims to provide a sanctuary for staff to unwind from the pressures of pandemic work.
The initiative, launched by two furloughed pilots, is entirely run by volunteer aviation crew who have found themselves not working due to Covid-19.
Grounded crew members, Aimee Merritt and Samantha Wilkie, had both been working at the hospital while on furlough and were inspired to lead the project.
Samantha Wilkie, 33, had previously volunteered at a similar scheme in Worthing.
She said: ‘We obviously saw how hard the NHS were working here and we really thought that they were missing out.
‘I just thought it would be really nice if we could progress things into the QA and make sure they had the wellbeing and the comfort that we were able to offer in other hospitals.’
Staff at the hospital can spend their breaks receiving special treatment from the team of cabin crew in the First Class Wingman Lounge.
More than 25 volunteers are caring for staff by offering a compassionate ear, refreshments, food, or a go on a massage chair.
Aimee Merritt, 30, said: ‘We wanted it to be that space where they could just come for 5 to 10 minutes, relax, switch off, talk about their day or talk about anything really.
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