Leeds nursing couple in emotional reunion with children after ten weeks apart during Covid-19 lockdown

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust nurses Georgia and Simon Morgan, of Garforth, knew they would be working long shifts in high risk areas when lockdown was announced in March.

So - with the children's safety and wellbeing in mind - they decided to send eight-year-old daughter Amelia and Jacob, five, to live with Georgia's parents near York.

Georgia, 39, said she cannot put into words how much she missed her son and daughter before the family had a "very emotional" reunion in mid June.

Simon, 40, who spent 17 years as a nurse in coronary care, is a clinical educator and provides vital training to nursing staff.

Georgia, who usually works as a nurse in outpatients at Leeds General Infirmary, was redeployed to work with coronavirus patients in the hospital's intensive care unit.

Georgia said her brother, his wife and their 18-month-old son also spent lockdown at her parent's home.

She said: "I don't think the children realised that they were going to be there for such a long time.

"But in general they had a brilliant time with my mum and dad.

"My sister in law is Chinese and she has taught them how to speak Chinese. And they have enjoyed playing with their 18-month-old cousin."

"It was very quiet and surreal without them at home. We spoke to them every day and we video called them two or three times a day.

"I don't think I can really put it into words how much we missed them.

"We didn't tell them they were coming home until the morning on the day it happened.

"They were very emotional and very giddy about coming back."

Georgia said her time working with Covid-19 patients intensive care was "challenging but rewarding."

She said: "I have worked in critical care previously but not in such an intense area, it was a long time ago when I first qualified.

"It was hard to see. What people were going through without their relatives there was exceedingly distressing.

"Being able talk to some of the patients and being the only person they could talk to was rewarding."

"Although it was a tough time for everyone, I really enjoyed working on the intensive care unit and we got incredible support from the hospital trust, our colleagues and the hospital charity, Leeds Cares.

"However, it was very hard being away from our children for that long. It was obviously a relief knowing they were safe and well – but we really did miss them."

Georgia added: "There were a lot of smiles, hugs and some tears when the children returned home."