The Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust has today (Tuesday, 13 January) asked patients seeking emergency care in Kingston to avoid using Kingston Hospital's A&E Department and to instead head to the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at Teddington Memorial Hospital.

This, the Trust says, is because Kingston Hospital's Emergency Department is "under pressure".

Kingston Hospital's Emergency Department is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only (Credit: Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust)

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Trust added: "Kingston Hospital's Emergency Department is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies only.

"Our urgent treatment centre in Teddington provides medical help when it's not a life-threatening emergency and is open until 8pm.

"For 24/7 health advice, call 111."