Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT)

Account monitored Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm
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The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) was founded in 1992 as part of the second wave of NHS Trusts to be established in England. We have three main hospital sites: Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro; St Michael’s Hospital, Hayle; and West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance. RCHT also provides imaging and outpatient services at a number of locations across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as well as birthing centres in St Austell, Helston and on the Isles of Scilly. We serve around 474,000 residents across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with the remainder of Cornwall’s population in the east and far north of the county looking to Plymouth and North Devon respectively, for their acute hospital services. As a yearround tourist destination, the number of people we care for is boosted by holidaymakers, which can more than double our population at the busiest times. Around 6,700 people work together across our hospitals and services, including 400 volunteers and an in-house bank of over 1500 people working flexibly to help us respond to changes in demand. The Trust has teaching hospitals status as part of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD) and University of Exeter Medical School. Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, the Trust is continually developing its clinical services and is committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation. The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site, the Cornwall base for medical students and the University of Plymouth Faculty of Health and Social Work, has further enhanced a strong reputation for training and education. This plays a vital part in attracting and retaining the Trust’s highly skilled teams of doctors, nurses and other health professionals who care for well over half a million people each year.

There are lots of simple things you can do to boost your mood.Find out more by searching 'NHS Every Mind Matters' on you...
18/01/2026

There are lots of simple things you can do to boost your mood.

Find out more by searching 'NHS Every Mind Matters' on your internet browser.

18/01/2026

When you need help, A&E might seem like the obvious choice. But there are many quick and easy ways to get NHS help for non-emergencies.

For urgent medical help, you can access NHS 111 by calling, going online or by using the NHS App.

Get the right care, in the right place, at the right time – and help free-up emergency services for those who need them most this winter.

Noticed symptoms appearing? 🤧Help stop common winter infections from spreading with these simple steps for you and your ...
17/01/2026

Noticed symptoms appearing? 🤧

Help stop common winter infections from spreading with these simple steps for you and your household.

When your loved one is ready to leave hospital, please be ready too.Collecting them earlier in the day - ideally before ...
17/01/2026

When your loved one is ready to leave hospital, please be ready too.

Collecting them earlier in the day - ideally before lunchtime - helps their recovery and frees up beds for patients who need urgent care.

Staying in hospital longer than necessary can affect mental and physical wellbeing. A prompt discharge means they can return to the comfort of home, see their pets, and start healing in familiar surroundings.

Please plan ahead and help us keep Cornwall’s hospitals moving.

Sometimes your nearest minor injury unit is not the quickest. Make sure you check the urgent care waiting times on our w...
16/01/2026

Sometimes your nearest minor injury unit is not the quickest. Make sure you check the urgent care waiting times on our website before you head out!

Your pharmacist can provide treatment or some prescription medicine, if needed, for seven common conditions - without yo...
16/01/2026

Your pharmacist can provide treatment or some prescription medicine, if needed, for seven common conditions - without you seeing a GP.

Think pharmacy first and get seen by your local community pharmacy team.

Our hospitals are under significant pressure this winter, and you can help by choosing the right NHS service for your ne...
15/01/2026

Our hospitals are under significant pressure this winter, and you can help by choosing the right NHS service for your needs. If you’re feeling unwell or need advice, start with NHS 111 online or by phone. They can guide you to the most appropriate care, whether that’s a pharmacy, a minor injury unit, or an urgent treatment centre. Pharmacies are a great option for minor illnesses and can help you avoid unnecessary trips to hospital. Please keep 999 for life-threatening emergencies only, such as someone who is unconscious, not breathing, or bleeding heavily. Every time you choose the right service, you help us keep emergency care available for those who need it most.

Every hour matters. Avoidable delays in discharge - even just a few hours - add significant pressure to our hospitals. W...
15/01/2026

Every hour matters. Avoidable delays in discharge - even just a few hours - add significant pressure to our hospitals. When your relative is medically fit, bringing them home before lunch helps their wellbeing and allows us to care for others waiting for a bed.

Please make arrangements early in the day so we can keep care flowing for everyone who needs it.

We have introduced a new digital fingerprint security system in our Neonatal Unit, setting a new standard for safety and...
14/01/2026

We have introduced a new digital fingerprint security system in our Neonatal Unit, setting a new standard for safety and convenience for families with premature and vulnerable babies.

The system, powered by Suprema BioStar technology, replaces traditional entry methods with secure biometric authentication, ensuring only authorised individuals can enter the ward, while freeing clinical staff to focus on patient care.

John Clague, Transformation Manager at RCHT, explained: “My son was born in Princess Alexandra Maternity Wing a few years ago and I would often have to wait 20 to 30 minutes for a busy member of staff to let me in. I would’ve welcomed this technology, it would have meant I could see my wife and son without needing to ring the bell, and that I could easily leave the ward to get her some food or drink without having to worry that it may take a wait to get back into the unit. This is another example of how we are embracing technology to improve the experience of our patients.”

The system is fully accredited to ISO standards, with encrypted data storage and automatic deletion once a child is discharged, giving families complete peace of mind. Additional security measures, including CCTV monitoring and anti-tailgating reminders, further strengthen protection.

Robin Martin, Neonatal Equipment Manager, added: “Introducing this system has been a long journey, but one that was absolutely worth it. Our priority was to make the ward safer and more accessible for parents while reducing the burden on clinical staff. Seeing it in action and knowing it’s helping families during such a critical time is incredibly rewarding."

The system will be evaluated over the coming months as part of a series of technology-driven initiatives linked to our new Women and Children’s Hospital, planned to open in 2030. While this particular system may not be the final solution, it will provide valuable insights into the benefits and challenges before a permanent system is installed.

Regular breast screening can find breast cancer before you notice any symptoms.Cornwall's mobile breast screening unit i...
14/01/2026

Regular breast screening can find breast cancer before you notice any symptoms.

Cornwall's mobile breast screening unit is currently in St Austell.

If you have been invited for breast screening but missed or did not book your appointment, you can arrange one by contacting the Mermaid Centre. Call 01872 25 2880 or email rch-tr.mermaidcentre@nhs.net

Please share with your family, friends and community groups.

If your loved one is ready to leave hospital, please help us get them home by arranging family or friends to collect the...
13/01/2026

If your loved one is ready to leave hospital, please help us get them home by arranging family or friends to collect them where possible.

Your support frees up hospital transport and ambulances for those who need them most.

13/01/2026

💙 Thank you, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 💙

Following the recent storm, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to local people across a wide range of organisations and businesses, volunteers and community groups across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, for the way you supported one another and our communities.

Staff in health and care teams, including GP practices, pharmacists, community services, independent care providers, voluntary organisations and unpaid carers worked tirelessly in very difficult conditions to continue health and care visits, provide essential care and check in on people who needed support. Our staff in out of hours services, including NHS 111, 999 and emergency service teams, have also gone above and beyond throughout the weekend to keep people safe and supported.

We know that for some local people, critical services such as power and water have not yet been fully restored. We want to acknowledge how hard this continues to be and reassure you that we are working closely with partners across the system to support those affected and to ensure services are restored as quickly as possible.

We are grateful to the public for continuing to use essential NHS services when you need them, while also showing patience and understanding at a time when services remain busy and under pressure.

Our thanks also extend beyond health and care. We are hugely appreciative of colleagues working in water, power and other essential services, and of the many businesses across our hospitality sector who opened their doors to provide warm spaces, hot food and hot water for people without power. Your kindness has made a real difference.

We also want to thank our local community groups, mutual aid networks and the many local Facebook group administrators who helped keep people informed, connected those in need with offers of help, and shared trusted information widely during the storm.

Once again, the storm showed the strength, kindness and resilience of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly — with people, services and communities pulling together when it mattered most. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part.

Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other 💙

With thanks and appreciation,

Susan Bracefield, Ali Bulman, Debbie Richards,
Babs Rounsevell MBE, Emma Rowse, Laura Wheeler and Steve Williamson
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care System leaders

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Cornwall Council
Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum
Kernow Health
Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust
disAbility Cornwall & IoS
Volunteer Cornwall

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Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske
Truro
TR13LJ

Telephone

+441872250000

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Our Story

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is the principal provider of acute care services in the county of Cornwall. We serves a population of around 450,000 people, a figure often doubled by holidaymakers during the busiest times of the year. We employ approximately 5,000 staff and currently have a budget of approximately £400 million. The Trust is responsible for the provision of services at three sites (comprising approximately 750 beds): Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, Truro West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance St Michael's Hospital, Hayle. The Trust has teaching hospitals status as part of the University of Exeter Medical School. Keeping at the forefront medical advances, the Trust has led developments in many clinical areas, and is committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. The opening of the Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site has further enhanced a strong reputation for training, education, research and innovation. This plays a vital part in attracting and retaining the Trust's highly skilled teams of doctors, nurses and other health professionals who provide care for well over 600,000 patient contacts each year. Reflecting the high standards of care on offer, recent patient surveys have shown that more than 90 percent of patients rated their overall experience of the services as excellent, very good or good.