GROUNDED airline pilots and cabin crew are planning to set up a “first-class lounge” service for NHS staff in Glasgow hospitals.

Project Wingman will offer a space for staff to “decompress” in a lounge setting similar to what first-class passengers and crew enjoy in airports.

Airline staff will be on hand to listen and respond to staff working in high-pressure situations dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in the city’s hospitals.

Hundreds of pilots and cabin crew are grounded as flights are suspended all over the world and they are looking to offer their support to the NHS.

The volunteers provide food, drinks and all equipment, and only require a room to set up the lounge from the hospital.

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It is available to staff before and after their shifts and on breaks, when the airline staff will serve tea, coffee and snacks, and will be ready to sit down and listen to what they have to say.

The project was founded by pilots Emma Henderson and David Fielding, who run their airlines’ peer support programmes, along with Professor Robert Bor, a clinical psychologist and leading authority on pilots’ mental health.

It is based upon captains Henderson and Fielding’s extensive experience of supporting professionals in extremely high-stress environments and Professor Bor’s clinical expertise.

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Professor Bor said: “We want to look after the wellbeing of all frontline NHS staff. We immediately thought of the airline staff and reached out to them to support us.”

Project Wingman has been commended by senior NHS staff in England for the support it is already offering there, having opened the first lounge in Whittington Hospital in London.

Bob Doris, Maryhill and Springburn SNP MSP, has backed the plan and asked the health board if it will accommodate the service.

There are understood to be around 40 airline staff volunteers ready to offer their services to the NHS for staff in Glasgow to be able talk about stressful and traumatic experiences or just to unwind and speak to someone about their shift and how they are feeling.

Mr Doris said: “I know from my constituents who are working tirelessly in the NHS in Glasgow to protect us all from the threat posed by Covid-19 that the decompression, headspace and opportunity to talk things over that Project Wingman offers would make a real difference to their physical and mental wellbeing.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde said: “We were approached this week with an offer of support from Project Wingman. We are engaging with them to determine how they can support our staff in line with our volunteering policies.”