### Clue: Dear old Hoskins has nurses write last of clues (9)
### Answer: EXPENSIVE 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Dear
 [ EX-(prefix depicting something of old;former) + I'VE(contraction of "I have";Hoskins the setter has, self-referentially) ] **containing**(nurses) [ PEN(to write;to compose) + **last letter of**(last of) "clues" ].