Sir – A very great friend of mine died recently from recurrent cancer. The last four-and-a-half weeks of her life were spent first in the oncology ward at the Churchill Hospital and then in Sir Michael Sobell House. I should like to put on record my tremendous admiration for the exemplary care she received at all times in both places.

From the very nature of the illness it was inevitably a stressful time for carers too, but every effort was made by all the staff to help them as well in a pastoral sense.

I hope they realise how greatly their work is appreciated.

How lucky we are to have two such centres of excellence in Oxford.

Sue Street, Oxford