Source · CQC inspection
Royal Cornwall Hospital
Provider Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Type NHS Healthcare Organisation
Region South West
Last inspected 29 Aug 2025
Overall rating: Requires Improvement View full CQC report
Domain ratings
Safe
Requires Improvement
Effective
Good
Caring
Good
Responsive
Requires Improvement
Well-led
Requires Improvement
Current CQC assessment
Requires Improvement
The service is not performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
Ratings by service
Medical care (Including older people's care)
Requires Improvement
Medical care (Including older people's care)
Requires Improvement
Urgent and emergency services
Requires Improvement
Urgent and emergency services
Requires Improvement
Medical care (Including older people's care)
Requires Improvement
Urgent and emergency services
Requires Improvement
Regulatory breaches & enforcement
Breaches identified (3)
Breach
Caring
We found 5 breaches of the legal regulations in relation to safe delivery of care and treatment, premises and equipment, staffing, dignity and respect, and good governance.
Breach
Overall
We found three breaches of regulation where care and treatment was not always provided in a safe and timely way in line with clinical guidance.
Breach
Overall
We found two breaches of regulation where care and treatment was not always provided in a safe and timely way in line with clinical guidance and in an area of the department or correct specialty where it is safe to do so.
Earlier inspection findings
Should-do actions (6)
Should-do action 1 of 6
Should do
Safe
The serviceshouldensuredailychecksarecompletedandaccurate,includingensuringthatmedicineandequipmentischeckedforexpirydates.
Should-do action 2 of 6
Should do
Safe
The serviceshouldensureallrecordsaredocumentedinfull,includingstafftoidentifytheirdesignation,signanddateallentries.
Should-do action 3 of 6
Should do
Safe
The serviceshouldevaluatecurrenttrainingprovisionforemergencyevacuationofthebirthpoolandensurebirthpoolevacuationsimulationsarecarriedouttoensureallstaffareconfidentandproficienttocarryoutthisprocedureinanemergency.
Should-do action 4 of 6
Should do
Safe
The serviceshouldensurestaffareawareofthebabyabductionpolicy,thepolicyisstrengthenedtoincludepreventativemeasures,andthatstaffofalllevelsareinvolvedinlivesimulations.
Should-do action 5 of 6
Should do
Safe
The serviceshouldconsiderthefacilitiesavailableandanywaytoimproveandmodernisethespaceavailabletoensurethesafestlayouttoprovidecare,includingdecluttering.
Should-do action 6 of 6
Should do
Safe
The serviceshouldensurecleardocumentationandguidanceisavailabletostaffregardingmidwifeexemptionandpatientgroupdirectivemedicine.