This week is Dying Matters Week, and the theme for 2026 is 'let's talk about death and dying'. With that in mind, a few of our colleagues have sent in their thoughts on talking about death.

Nurse Consultant for Palliative and End of Life Care, Abbie Thompson, said: "Discussing dying helps ensure a person's end of life wishes are clearly understood, enabling healthcare professionals to plan care that respects those preferences, while easing the emotional burden on loved ones during an already difficult time."

Hospital Chaplain, Zeenat Hussain, said: "From an Islamic perspective, death is not the end, but a transition to eternal life. Remembering death is not about fear, but about gaining perspective - it encourages us to live with purpose, treat others with compassion, and prepare our hearts for what comes next. Open conversations about death and dying help strengthen faith and support individuals and families to prepare spiritually, emotionally, and practically for this inevitable reality, allowing us to face it with faith rather than avoidance."

Team Leader for Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team, Gemma Gordan, said: "Caring for patients at the end of their life is a privilege, but we only have one chance to get it right; those precious memories live on in their loved ones in bereavement and beyond. We need to talk about it."

Our End of Life team will be facilitating a stall in the main entrance of HRI on Thursday, 7th May between 9am - 4pm. There will be leaflets and resources available for anyone interested.