Four NHS workers who took the decision to move out of their family home in order to protect a vulnerable father and husband have finally been reunited.

Bernadette Tilling and her three sons Chris, Graham, and Aaron live in Radlett and they all work for the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

At the beginning of the pandemic, they took the decision to move out of their family home in order to protect dad-of-three Simon because he is in one of the high-risk groups for Covid-19.

Youngest son, Chris, an occupational therapy assistant, said: "Although it was a difficult decision to make, it was one we felt was right.

"The decision to move out was hard, but for me personally, and I'm sure the rest of my family, it relieved any anxiety and stress surrounding my Dad's health, as he would now be safer at home.

"Of course the hardest parts were not being able to stay together as a family and my Dad having to isolate at home on his own."

During the pandemic, Bernadette, a healthcare assistant, Chris, Graham, who is also an occupational therapy assistant, and Aaron, a community support time and recovery worker, have carried out vital work caring for the the trust's service users.

Watford Observer:

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Healthcare workers and brothers Chris, Graham and Aaron

They supported their teams in a variety of different ways to help meet the demands that Covid-19 brought to the delivery of the trust's mental health and learning disability services.

This included organising activities to alleviate their boredom, helping service users to contact their families virtually, using technology and making sure vulnerable service users in the community received essential food parcels.

Bernadette said: "I am very happy that we are all back together as a whole family - it is really nice to have us all back under the same roof.

"In my 31 years of working for the NHS at the trust, I have never been more proud of the service we deliver and my family than I am today. We have felt much supported and hope we can carry on helping the trust to deliver great services."

Watford Observer:

Husband and wife Bernadette and Simon from Radlett

John Fanning, service line lead for learning disabilities in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, said: "The whole family has been amazing. They could have decided to shield at home together and this would have had massive implications for service delivery. I am so grateful for the sacrifices they have all made.”

Tom Cahill, chief executive of the NHS trust, added: "I’d like to say a big thank you to Bernadette, Chris, Graham and Aaron for going above and beyond in order to support our service users and their colleagues.

"It is because of people like them, that this trust is an outstanding trust, providing great support to our service users when they need it most."