A powerful new photo essay published in the medical journal The Lancet is offering an intimate look at the work of the hospice and our staff and volunteers.
Created by documentary photographer James Clifford Kent, the essay documents seven days spent alongside the team at Community Hospice.
Through a combination of photography and personal reflections from patients, families and staff, it highlights the people behind the hospice. We were delighted to work with James to bring the reality of this work to a wider audience.
By featuring it in The Lancet, the essay places documentary photography alongside clinical
research, using visual storytelling to examine a form of healthcare that many people encounter only during moments of crisis.
In the accompanying text, James describes the photographs as both "document and intervention", making visible a service that often remains hidden from public view.
Aneta Saunders, Interim CEO, Community Hospice“At a time when demand for palliative care is growing, it is vital that more people understand not only what hospices do, but why this care matters so much to patients and families."
Aneta Saunders, Interim Chief Executive of Community Hospice, says: “We were delighted to welcome James into Community Hospice to see first-hand what it is like to support people at the end of life, and to share that experience with The Lancet.
“For us, this essay captures something we see every day but is rarely visible beyond both the walls of the hospice and the homes of our patients.
“At a time when demand for palliative care is growing, it is vital that more people understand not only what hospices do, but why this care matters so much to patients and families. It also reinforces the importance of ensuring that high-quality palliative care is available to everyone who needs it.
“We are proud to see our team and our work represented in a way that is both honest and respectful.”
©️ 2026 James Clifford Kent / Yuma Studios
James described the experience as transformative: “Working in the hospice fundamentally changed how I think about dying. I expected silence and grief, but found compassion, clinical skill and humanity. I wanted to document what hospice care actually looks like - not what many people imagine it to be. These photographs show that even when death cannot be changed, the experience of dying can.”
James Clifford Kent, Photographer“Working in the hospice fundamentally changed how I think about dying. I expected silence and grief, but found compassion, clinical skill and humanity."
Commissioned by Music in Hospices, the project aims to broaden public understanding of hospice care at a time when demand for specialist services continues to grow.
Joe Cavalli-Price, Founder and Chief Executive of Music in Hospices, said: “Most people only discover what a hospice really is at one of the hardest moments of their lives. These
photographs open that world to the public. They reveal the skill, compassion and dignity that
define hospice care, and show why equitable access to that care matters.”
Those with an account on The Lancet can read it here.
It will also feature in the print version of the journal at the end of July
©️ 2026 James Clifford Kent / Yuma Studios