New Jaguar Land Rover Coronavirus Support: Defender Fleet, Pilot Schemes And Rehab Centre

Jaguar Land Rover is continuing to support the fight against coronavirus by lending a fleet of New Defenders to GPs, piloting two NHS trials and introducing a rehabilitation programme to help employees suffering ‘long Covid’ return to work.

Jaguar Land Rover has also teamed up with NHS Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to lend 10 New Defenders to healthcare organisations across Birmingham and Solihull as vaccinations begin.

The vehicles were delivered over Christmas to University Hospital Birmingham, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and general practices throughout the area. Healthcare staff are using them as they vaccinate care home residents and deliver vital equipment.

Paul Jennings, Chief Executive Officer at NHS Birmingham and Solihull CCG, said: “Working in partnership is extremely important to the NHS and the support and generosity of Jaguar Land Rover will assist with the smooth rollout of the vaccination programme across the patch. The vaccine rollout will be one of the greatest challenges the NHS has ever faced, but with the support of our partners we will achieve the goal of returning to a normal way of life.”

Pilot Schemes

The Castle Bromwich Experience Centre will be converted into a Covid-19 vaccination research hub, hosting follow-up appointments for volunteers who received initial injections at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. The NHS and Clinical Research Network West Midlands continue to trial new vaccines as well as the three already approved for use in the UK, making these research centres vital while the existing vaccines are given.

Alongside this, to ensure a Covid-19-safe workplace, Jaguar Land Rover is taking part in a pilot scheme to support rapid Covid-19 testing across all its UK sites.

Long-Covid Rehabilitation Programme

The Centre for Wellbeing at Jaguar Land Rover Solihull is also introducing a rehabilitation programme for employees suffering from ‘long Covid’, focusing on lung capacity, neck mobility and energy levels. The Centre has been adapted with dedicated space for Pilates classes, a weights area, treadmills and rowing machines. With several employees participating in trials, Jaguar Land Rover plans to extend the service to sites across the UK. Rehabilitation will be tailored to the needs of employees at each facility, from research to design and engineering to manufacturing.

Sav Sehmi, Supplier Technical Assistance programme engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, benefited from the programme after suffering exhaustion and stiff, aching muscles following his return to work in August. He said: “The occupational health team recognised my long Covid symptoms and referred me to the Wellbeing Centre at Solihull. I instantly started to notice the difference as the sessions were individually tailored and allowed specific muscles to be targeted. It is now 10 months post Covid-19 and I am starting to feel much better and stronger, which is testament to the rehabilitation programme and occupational health team.”

Dr Steve Iley, Chief Medical Officer at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “We are committed to supporting the communities in and around our facilities as the country continues to fight against Covid-19– whether that’s helping with vaccination research or those who are suffering because of the virus. The health and safety of our employees, customers and their families remain of utmost importance. We are proud to continue to work with the NHS, Public Health England and the Department of Health to help people throughout the region to bounce back from this global pandemic.”

The initiatives are the latest in a sustained response to the global pandemic made by the manufacturer. In April, employees at Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull and Castle Bromwich facilities raised nearly £30,000 to support local charities through the crisis, while the manufacturer also produced face visors for frontline NHS staff, and deployed more than 360 vehicles worldwide through organisations such the British Red Cross.