Martin House doctor shares realities of children’s palliative care in new book

A doctor at Martin House Children’s Hospice is launching a new book in Thirsk this weekend, drawing on her experiences caring for seriously ill children and their families. 

Dr Michelle Hills, Chief Medical Officer at Martin House, has written The Wrong Order of Things, which is published on 10 September.

Michelle, who is also a Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine, will mark the publication with a book launch at the White Rose Book Café in Thirsk on Saturday 12 September, from 7pm to 9pm, featuring an author talk and reading followed by a Q&A.

She will also appear at the Helmsley Literary Festival on Sunday 20 September, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

Drawing on Michelle’s career in children’s palliative care, The Wrong Order of Things uses a series of anonymised, real-life composite stories to explore the experiences of children and families facing life-shortening illness.

The book examines the delicate balance between hope and accepting reality, while exploring the strength, courage and moments of happiness families can find in incredibly difficult circumstances. Michelle also hopes it will help demystify palliative care and encourage more open conversations.

Michelle said: “Society needs to talk more openly about death, dying and grief. We need to extend this conversation to include the reality that children can die too. And we need to consider how we talk honestly and kindly to children about ill health, death, grief and bereavement.”

“Palliative and hospice care is about living before you die. Children's hospices are happy places full of music and art and play....and living! The myth that they are just for end-of-life care creates barriers for referrals. So many children and families can benefit from hospice support.”

“We need to make children's lives better in every way possible. Children need to be children even when they are having palliative care.”

Michelle studied medicine at Cambridge before completing postgraduate degrees in palliative medicine and medical education at Cardiff. She has spent her career in palliative care, both as an NHS hospital consultant and in the children’s hospice sector.

She has also served as Chair of the Paediatric Palliative Medicine Committee for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, written about issues affecting the sector, and spoken at the Houses of Parliament as part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dying Well.

The Wrong Order of Things is published by Mirror Books, priced £10.99, and goes on sale on 10 September 2026.

Tickets are available for both the Thirsk book launch and Michelle’s appearance at the Helmsley Literary Festival.

For further information about Martin House Children's Hospice and how to support it, visit: www.martinhouse.org.uk