Sir - Many of your readers may have lost a loved one or cared for someone with a terminal illness.

As the UK’s leading terminal illness charity, Marie Curie knows people with other diseases need the care and support provided by us and other palliative care specialists.

We have just published a report which suggests people living with a terminal illness other than cancer as well as conditions such as Parkinson’s and acute stroke, are less likely to be offered or have access to palliative and end of life care services. Yet this could make a real difference, not only to them, but to their families and carers.

Many patients are missing out on the opportunity to get the care and support they need because health professionals don’t know who is responsible.

We have written to medical and nurse directors across the UK asking them to improve care and support for patients and their families affected by terminal illness: This includes people with all terminal illnesses, as well as people with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and strokes.

If your readers would like to help, I would encourage them to visit mariecurie.org.uk/change.

Karen Torley, divisional general manager, North East England Marie Curie