An NHS tax could undermine private provision

SIR – Charles Moore (Comment, March 26) is right to say that taxpayers would not respond well to a ring-fenced NHS tax; but not only for the reasons he suggests.

If my monthly payslip listed the NHS tax as a separate item, I would evaluate whether the money could have been better invested in private healthcare.

Although not convinced the NHS model would represent the best-value investment, I would have to cancel my private insurance to cover the cost of the additional tax – thereby putting additional strain on the NHS. Chris Tyrrell

London E10

SIR – Neither vehicle excise duty (formerly the road fund licence) nor national insurance contributions are used for their original purposes. They are just additional tax-gathering devices. John Upex

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

SIR – By all means let’s put more money into the NHS, but first can we please have some clarity from its leadership on where any extra money would go. What confidence can they give us that any increase in the current annual spend of £140 billion would lead to clear improvements to the service?

Will it end the winter crises and put a stop to patients waiting on trolleys in hospital corridors? Will it increase facilities for mental healthcare and improve the management of outpatient appointments?

Sadly, I suspect not. Richard Hawtin

Haywards Heath, West Sussex