Urgent Treatment Centre at West Cornwall Hospital
If your illness or injury is not life threatening, the Urgent Care Centre may be the best place to go for quick diagnosis and treatment.
This page was last updated: April 5th, 2022
Due to the current impact of Covid-19 on our staffing West Cornwall Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre is subject to temporary changes in opening hours on a day by day basis
Please check the Waiting Times Information for West Cornwall Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre or our social media channels for the latest information before going.
If you need urgent care, please contact NHS 111.
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
What injuries and illnesses does the Urgent Treatment Centre treat?
Minor injury units and urgent Treatment centres can treat:
Minor injury units and Urgent Treatment centres cannot treat:
- chest pain
- major injuries
- breathing difficulties
- problems usually dealt with by a GP
- stomach pains
- gynaecological problems
- pregnancy problems
- allergic reactions
- overdoses
- alcohol-related problems
- mental health problems – see the section below on what to do in a mental health crisis
- conditions likely to require hospital admission
If you’re not sure whether your injury can be treated at the Urgent Treatment Centre, call 111 for advice.
Suspected stroke? Chest pain? Serious injury? Choking? Traumatic blood loss? Loss of consciousness? Call 999 or visit the Emergency Department
What happens when I visit the Urgent Treatment Centre?
A qualified nurse assesses each patient as soon as possible after they have registered. As you’d expect, we assess patients in order of urgency and not necessarily in order of arrival. We’ll then either treat the patient in the department or, if necessary, admit them to the hospital’s medical assessment unit or surgical ward. Many patients can be seen by an Emergency Nurse Practitioner and may be called ahead of patients needing to see the doctor.
Seriously ill patients who need a full trauma service, intensive or specialist care, will be transferred directly to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.
Safety at the Urgent Treatment Centre
Regrettably, our staff are sometimes the subject of inappropriate and threatening behaviour. We have a zero tolerance policy and will prosecute offenders.
Directions to the Urgent Treatment Centre
The Urgent Treatment Centre is on the ground floor at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance. When you arrive at the main entrance, go past the main reception and turn right. Follow the corridor round to the left and the Urgent Treatment Centre is on your right.
Get directions to West Cornwall Hospital
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