THE death of Ese Elizabeth Alabi at Papworth Hospital while awaiting a heart transplant (January 23) was regrettable, but I agree with the Government regulations that illegals should not be treated at taxpayers expense. Any visitors to the UK, including

THE death of Ese Elizabeth Alabi at Papworth Hospital while awaiting a heart transplant (January 23) was regrettable, but I agree with the Government regulations that illegals should not be treated at taxpayers' expense.

Any visitors to the UK, including those who overstay their welcome, should be required by law to show that they have a current E111 etc or have full private health care insurance before entry into the UK.

The fact that we appear to run a world healthcare service open to abuse by the non-entitled should be stamped on hard.

The NHS has finite resources at best and, if one cares to look at the any other country, foreign visitors, invited or otherwise, must have valid medical insurance, a fact that too often our hospital administrators conveniently ignore, treating everyone free at the taxpayers' expense.

This should be treated as a serious criminal offence (theft from the public purse) unless anyone can prove that they are entitled to free treatment.

Ms Alabi's family should not be able to lodge a claim under the Human Rights Act unless they are willing to pay the legal costs without public funding.

A WARRILLOW, Elm Drive, St Ives

* DO doctors in Papworth Hospital take the medical oath? ("Woman died waiting for new heart," January 23).

Is that oath relevant in modern-day Britain with the current immigration rules?

Do doctors ever have any right to stand up for their patients?

How could her consultant call it "irresponsible" to give her a heart?

If she had got a new heart and then got deported, wouldn't the doctors have done the job that they swore to do?

Why does the Home Office wait until the illegal immigrant goes to hospital? Are NHS staff now acting as spies for the Home Office? Is it OK to overstay your visa as long as you don't go to the NHS?

When millions of illegal immigrants are working and paying unfairly huge taxes, the Home office is too busy or is oblivious of the use of deportation?

This woman has children with a man who has indefinite leave to remain. By law these children are British citizens whose mother has been killed by the Papworth doctors because she lacked a certain legal paper. I hope they are happy growing up in this modern-day Britain.

I agree that every country needs good border and immigration control, but I hope the Home Office is not headed for ethnic cleansing.

AMANDA SHAMAR, Grammar School Walk, Huntingdon