Emergency Department (ED)

About this service

The Emergency Department (ED) is open 24 hours a day for the treatment of serious and potentially life threatening conditions. We also have an Urgent Care Centre at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance.

If you are attending ED or bringing someone here, please come straight to reception and our trained team will take your details and make sure you end up in the right place.

Where is the best place to get treatment?

Check this guide to urgent care in Cornwall

How long will you have to wait?

Click here to see our ED, Urgent Care and Minor Injury waiting times

Ambulatory Decision Lounge (ADL)

The Ambulatory Decision Lounge is an area for ED patients, situated within the department, who have been assessed and require ongoing treatment, but are expected to be discharged upon completion of their treatment plan.

Majors 1 and 2

Patients who are seriously ill with conditions such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain and neurological complaints will be taken to one of our Majors units.

The Same Day Emergency Care Unit (SDEC)

At the Same Day Emergency Care Unit, we look after patients who have been referred by their GP as an emergency, but who can be treated safely and effectively that same day without needing to be admitted to hospital. The unit is specially designed for rapid assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients with acute medical conditions.

Contact information

Paediatric Emergency Department

Majors

Where to find us

The Emergency Department is located at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. The Emergency Department is on the right-hand side of the Trelawny Wing but it has its own entrance, so when you arrive at the hospital site, follow the signs for the Emergency Department (which are highlighted in red).

There are a few short stay spaces outside the Emergency Department, and you can drop people off outside, but please don’t stop in the hatched area directly in front or block access for ambulances.

Page last reviewed: 9 May 2023

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