District Nurse Tina Wright left home to live in a tent during the pandemic so she could carry on caring.

The devoted mum of two pitched up in her garden near Abingdon at the beginning of March in a selfless act to allow her to continue looking after the sick but also to protect her family.

Tina’s 17-year-old son Josh is registered blind and has a rare medical condition Hypopituitarism, which could put his life at serious risk if he contracted Covid.

She said: “It was a no brainier really. I wanted to continue working and thankfully my husband’s work understood my job took precedence and supported him to be at home with Josh. It was definitely a difficult time emotionally and mentally for us all.”

The District Nurse has worked with the Didcot-based Woodlands and District team since November 2019 and in the South West region for the past five years.

As the Covid crisis developed her soldier husband Paul was given compassionate leave from the Army help care for Josh at their home near Abingdon. And their daughter moved out too to stay with her boyfriend’s family in another effort to minimise risk to Josh.

“For the next two months my garden was my home,” Tina said.

However, her selflessness knows no bounds as she has also been helping those socially isolating in her village as a member of the local community response team.

On top of her district nursing duties, she’s been getting prescriptions, collecting shopping and being a friendly person to chat to.

Despite the sacrifice Tina made, living outside the comforts of her family home, she found huge support from her nursing colleagues. She was not only missing living with her family but also the ability to reach out and provide a comforting touch to her patients.

“We picked each other up when someone was having a bad day. It’s made us a closer team going forward. I’m very proud to work alongside and be part of the amazing Woodlands and Oak Tree team.”

After a couple of very difficult months apart from her loved ones, Tina made the decision to move back in with the family but continue to maintain social distancing when Josh was able to return to school. She reflected: “We have found we are closer as a family unit and we are more grateful for the smaller things we may once have taken for granted.”

Tina really is an inspiration and a wonderful example of the extraordinary lengths that some people will go to during this difficult time to protect others.