The Guernsey Literary Festival is working in partnership with Health & Social Care to offer healthcare workers and their families free talks at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

As part of the Guernsey Literary Community Programme, sponsored by Rothschild & Co. author and campaigner Nicci Gerrard will be giving a talk on ‘What Dementia Teaches Us About Love’. The book has been described as 'Immensely powerful . . . her investigation of this terrible illness is sensitive and compelling' (Sunday Times). After her own father's death from dementia, Nicci Gerrard set out to explore the illness that now touches millions of us, yet which we still struggle to speak about. The book considers what dementia means for those who live with it, and those who care for them.Author and illustrator of 16 books including the King Flashypants series Andy Riley will also be visiting the hospital offering an interactive free children’s event.  He's also an Emmy-winning scriptwriter whose credits include Gnomeo and Juliet, the TV versions of David Walliams' The Boy In The Dress and Gangsta Granny, Veep, Armstrong and Miller, Smack The Pony and Black Books. Andy will deliver a big bag of fun as he tells you all about his King Flashypants book series - comedy adventure stories full of cartoons, for children between ages five and ten.

Another event in the health and wellbeing space taking place during the festival is with Christie Watson who was a registered nurse for 20 years. She spent most of her career in paediatric intensive care in large NHS hospitals before becoming a resuscitation officer, which involved teaching and clinical work on hospital-wide crash teams. Christie’s book, The Language of Kindness: A Nurse’s Story, a Sunday Times number 1 bestseller, takes us from birth to death, from A&E to the mortuary, and is an astonishing account of a profession defined by acts of care, consideration and kindness. This event, which is organised in partnership with Health Connections takes place at St James from 19:30-20:30 on 30 April.

Lottie Barnes, Culture, Arts & Health Manager, HSC said:“The World Health Organisation has recently published a scoping review ‘What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being?’ in which it demonstrates the importance of participating in cultural and arts activities for our health and wellbeing. This is a really important partnership with The Guernsey Literary Festival in offering a high quality arts in health programme at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

Claire Allen, Festival Director, The Guernsey Literary Festival said:

“We are delighted to be able to partner with HSC to offer these free community events as part of the Guernsey Literary Festival programme for both staff and young patients at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. Thanks to our generous festival sponsors for supporting these important Arts in Health initiatives in the Bailiwick of Guernsey”