Families commonly report that it comes as a relief once the subject is brought out into the open.

Three senior doctors and two senior clergy have contributed to COVID-19: Where is God in all this? published this month by Grove Booklet on Ethics for £3.95. (https://grovebooks.co.uk/collections/ethics).

In the Covid 19 era the likelihood of death and place of death for different groups of people has changed

Aside from this Covid 19 era half of us will die in hospital. A recent government study shows that, for the majority, hospitals deal well with the dying. But one area for improvement appears to be communication between medical staff and the patient and their families. While medical staff can be reluctant to be pessimistic, most patients and their families would prefer to be told if the end is very near.

Recently his mother, aged 93, died ‘in excruciating pain’. This event has caused him to reflect on the problem of pain and suffering, either in body or in mind, and to look into its meaning and purpose for those with a religious belief.

Nurses have believed for a long time that even when almost all signs of life have left, a dying patient might well be able to hear your parting words.