Salisbury District Hospital's emergency department is appealing for members of the public to donate essential items for vulnerable patients that are being discharged.

Doctor Raychel Oaten is appealing for donations of items such as toilet paper, soap, tinned soup, biscuits, long-life milk, teabags, sugar, jam, bread, cereal and chocolate.

She said: "Our Emergency Dept has been overwhelmed by the kindness shown to us by the City of Salisbury and surrounding areas in recognition of the unprecedented times we are working in. However, we as a Emergency team are seeing vulnerable patient groups going home who are isolated, unable to access shops/supplies, carers who can’t get their weekly shops etc due to the current climate that we wanted to give something back to these people.

"We are asking family, friends, neighbours to help us in donating items so that we could at least send a vulnerable individual home with some survival items."

Any donations can be dropped off at the A&E's reception or given to members of staff.

Should the department become "overwhelmed" with supplies, items will be donated to community groups or foodbanks.