Local charity RBKares has appealed for people to bake for Kingston NHS Hospital as its emergency department faces winter pressures. 

Volunteers at the charity were dropping off items for the play therapists* at Kingston Hospital Charity, when representatives reportedly said A&E is "on their knees" with the current pressures. 

Dr Kate Kenyon, founder of RBKares, said: "A&E are really struggling at the moment. We would love to support them again with baked goods as having a treat always makes a difficult shift a little bit easier." 

Usually, the charity drops off one or two cakes a week for the hospital staff, Dr Kenyon said. The hospital had made a list covering everyone from the IT and Comms department, the doctors and nurses, to the porters, ensuring everyone had their sweet turn.  

But the news of the growing pressure prompted the group to see if they could bake more for the hospital staff. 

"By doing this we can make [hospital staff] realise we know they are having a hard time," Dr Kenyon said. "By homemade cakes, people in the community have gone out of their way to make something for staff and make them feel better." 

The initiative comes after NHS England warned of a "tough new year" with growing winter pressures and strike action putting hospitals on the "back foot" in dealing with recovering services and additional demand in January 2024. 

NHS National Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said in a press statement:  "Six consecutive days of industrial action [between 3-9 January came] at one of our busiest periods – the action will not only have an enormous impact on planned care, but comes on top of a host of seasonal pressures such as covid, flu, and staff absences due to sickness – all of which is impacting on how patients flow through hospitals." 

Kingston Hospital is facing winter pressures. (Photo: Supplied)

Dr Kenyon said: "It is not a huge thing for people to do but it makes a huge difference to the recipients to know the community is thinking of them." 

If you can help by baking something (with a list of ingredients on it please) RBKares and its volunteers can drop them at the hospital. Sweet or savoury - both would be very welcome. Please drop to 46 Norbiton Avenue or 25 Deacon Road. 

A spokesperson for Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said:"In line with other hospitals and due to the recent spell of cold weather and usual pressures of winter, we are currently seeing high numbers of patients in Kingston Hospital's emergency department and our services are under pressure. The hospital is here for patients who need care, but we are asking people to consider alternative options if they need medical advice, but it isn't an emergency."

People who need care must come forward as they usually would – using 999 and A&E in life threatening emergencies and 111 online for everything else. 

RBKares is a group of volunteers that aims to mobilise the community to respond at pace to needs that arise within the borough of Kingston