Tips

Keep your letter very short – about 100 words. Look out for the guidelines that most newspapers have (online or in the paper itself) for writing Letters to the Editor.

Make your most important point in the very first sentence. For example:

Dying well is an important part of a good health system. Yet too many New Zealanders are still missing out on the quality palliative care they need, and where you live can affect the care available to you.

Use the next two or three paragraphs to say what are the challenges faced by hospice sector and why the Government needs to act now. For example:

Hospice care is free to every patient and whānau in need, no matter where they live, but today, not everyone has fair access. Too many communities face gaps in service, workforce shortages, and funding uncertainty that put vital care at risk. Moreover, it is predicted the number of people needing palliative care will increase by over 50% in just the next 20 years.

Hospice New Zealand is calling on the next Government to:

• Progress implementation of the new National Model for Integrated Adult Palliative Care
• Invest in the palliative care workforce, including pay parity
• Ensure children and young people can access the palliative care they need; and
• Make equitable access to palliative care a national health priority.

Include some strong facts, for example;

• 11,471 people who died received hospice support last year, but Hospice New Zealand estimates between 13,000 and 17,000 New Zealanders could and should have benefited from hospice care.
• Availability of 24/7 palliative care support varies across the country.

Include a personal touch – what is your experience?

Avoid jargon, acronyms, and get someone else to read it before sending.

Consider writing a longer piece, e.g. a blog or opinion piece (around 800 words – find some tips here)