MSPs have met with patients and staff at a hospice as they told a Holyrood committee about their experiences of accessing palliative and end of life care.

Among those involved in the start of the inquiry into the issue by the Health and Sport Committee, were two men whose wives died recently.

Retired senior police officer Harry Bunch has volunteered with Marie Curie since 2011, when his wife died at the charity's Glasgow hospice, Glasgow.

Mr Bunch said: "When Liz was admitted, the staff took a lot of the pressure that I had been experiencing away from me trying to look after her at home. The staff cared for and supported both of us and enabled me to stay with her in her room in the hospice for the final two weeks. I decided to volunteer with Marie Curie because of the positive experience of those couple of weeks in the hospice."

Mr Bunch said as chairman of the charity's expert voices group he welcomed the inquiry.

He added: "What I have found with fellow members is that there are many similarities in our experiences caring for loved ones at the end of life. There's a real opportunity to develop the practices and the voice that would make us world leaders, and that's the aspiration - to be the best."

Bill Whiland and his wife Edith had known each other since they were 17 and had four children together.

Mrs Whiland was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in April 2011 and died in 2013. Bill said: "My wife Edith had very specific goals that she wanted to achieve; to meet her first grandchild, to attend her only daughter's wedding and to die at home. With the support of Marie Curie working with the palliative care team. Edith could never have achieved these goals.

"I'm really impressed and appreciative of the work the Scottish Parliament is doing."

Speaking at the launch of the inquiry, titled 'We need to talk to Palliative Care,' committee convener Duncan McNeil MSP said: "The recent debate on assisted dying hihglighted that the provision of palliative care in Scotland is not good enough. Our committee heard that access to palliative care is not available on an equal basis.

"We want this inquiry to shine a light on access to palliative care in Scotland and what more can be done to improve care for people at the end of their lives."

The call for views is open until August 12.