Letter: Would more support for hospices not ease burden on NHS?

In reply to the letter (A&T Letters 29th Nov) from the ever-observant Phyllis Inglis regarding the wastage by the NHS especially in hospitals.

Instead of throwing more and more money to endeavour to solve the NHS crisis and get it back on its feet again, would it not be more sensible, especially in an ageing population, to give more financial help and support to the very many hospices throughout the country which are having to depend on public donations in order to carry out the excellent nursing and palliative care at the end of life?

Everyone has, at some stage, to face death and we should ensure, as human beings, to make sure that, until that last breath is taken, we should certainly retain our dignity and be as painfree as is possible as we depart this life.

Greater investment in hospices in order to achieve this is now overdue and very essential.

M Hill

Barton