Skip to content

Cornwall Essentials

Hospitals, emergency numbers, pharmacies, vets, and the practical contacts worth saving before you arrive.

Cornwall is a long peninsula, and emergency services are spread thinly across it. Knowing which number to call - and which hospital is closest - can save you hours when something goes wrong. This page covers the practical contacts every visitor should have.

In a life-threatening emergency, call 999.

For police, ambulance, fire, or coastguard. The European 112 number also works in the UK and connects to the same operators. Both are free from any phone, including locked or out-of-credit mobiles.

Hospitals and A&E

Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske is the only 24-hour A&E within Cornwall. If you are in east Cornwall (Saltash, Looe, Liskeard, the Rame Peninsula), Derriford in Plymouth is often closer. West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance has an Urgent Treatment Centre but no full A&E - the difference matters for serious injuries.

Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske), Truro

  • Address: Treliske, Priory Road, Truro TR1 3LJ
  • Phone: 01872 250000
  • A&E: 24 hours, every day
  • What it covers: Major trauma, heart attacks, strokes, serious fractures, paediatric emergencies, maternity

West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance

  • Address: St Clare Street, Penzance TR18 2PF
  • Phone: 01736 753234
  • Urgent Treatment Centre: 8am to midnight, every day - walk-in, no appointment
  • What it covers: Cuts, simple fractures, minor burns, urinary infections, sprains. NOT major trauma - life-threatening cases are blue-lighted to Treliske.

Derriford Hospital, Plymouth

  • Address: Derriford Road, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 8DH
  • Phone: 01752 202082
  • A&E: 24 hours, every day (Level 6, walk-in)
  • Useful if you are staying in: Saltash, Torpoint, Looe, Liskeard, Rame Peninsula, east of the A38

Minor Injury Units (MIUs)

Cornwall has nine MIUs and one Urgent Treatment Centre. They handle sprains, cuts, simple fractures, minor burns, and infections - usually with shorter waits than A&E. They do not x-ray hips, femurs, backs, chests, ribs, faces, or children under 2. Hours vary by site and shift, so phone or check NHS Cornwall's wait times page before setting off.

  • Bodmin - Bodmin Community Hospital, Boundary Road
  • Camborne Redruth - Camborne Redruth Community Hospital, Barncoose
  • Falmouth - Falmouth Hospital, Trescobeas Road
  • Helston - Helston Community Hospital, Meneage Road
  • Launceston - Launceston General Hospital, Hendra Vean
  • Liskeard - Liskeard Community Hospital, Clemo Road
  • Newquay - Newquay Community Hospital, St Thomas Road
  • St Austell - St Austell Community Hospital, Porthpean Road
  • Stratton - Stratton Community Hospital (serves Bude)
  • St Marys, Isles of Scilly - 01720 422392 (24 hours)

The Urgent Treatment Centre at West Cornwall Hospital (Penzance) is open until midnight every day and can do more than an MIU - it accepts referrals from NHS 111 and walk-ins.

NHS 111: when it is not 999

For anything that needs attention but is not life-threatening, call 111. Free from any phone, available 24 hours, every day. Use it for:

  • Symptoms you are worried about but not sure where to go
  • Out-of-hours GP advice
  • Emergency dental pain (operators direct you to the right service)
  • Late-night pharmacy when prescriptions run out
  • Mental health crises

The 111 online service at 111.nhs.uk works the same way and can be quicker than the phone in busy periods.

Emergency dental

Dental emergencies on holiday are common - cracked teeth from chewy fudge, lost fillings, abscesses. Most NHS dentists in Cornwall will not accept temporary patients. Two routes work:

  • Smile Together - Cornwall's NHS urgent dental service. Phone 0333 405 0290 or email urgentdental.care@nhs.net. They run urgent appointments across Cornwall.
  • NHS 111 - if Smile Together is closed or you cannot get through, 111 will arrange the nearest urgent slot.

Pharmacies

No pharmacy in Cornwall is open 24 hours. The longest hours are at supermarket pharmacies in Tesco and Asda stores at Truro (Treliske), Bodmin, Penzance, Falmouth, and Newquay - typically open until 9pm or 10pm, sometimes later on Saturdays. Smaller town pharmacies usually close at 6pm.

Out of hours, NHS 111 maintains a rota of "duty" pharmacies that open evenings and Sundays. Call 111 and they will tell you which is closest and currently open. Take a photograph of the prescription label or empty packet of any regular medication - it speeds up replacement requests.

Emergency vets

If you are travelling with a dog, save these numbers before you arrive. Out-of-hours vet care in Cornwall is shared between a small number of practices, so the nearest open one may not be the nearest by miles.

  • CVets, Truro - 01872 560952. Cornwall Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service. Open 6.30pm to 8.30am weeknights, all weekend. Covers most central and west Cornwall referrals.
  • Penmellyn Vets, St Columb - 01637 880307. 24-hour hospital. Useful for north Cornwall and the Newquay coast.
  • MiNightVet, Falmouth - covers Falmouth, Helston, Truro, and the Lizard out of hours. Phone your daytime vet first; their answerphone routes you through.

For chronic conditions, bring enough medication to last the trip plus 3-4 spare days. Repeat prescriptions cannot be filled by a vet who has not seen your animal.

Coastguard and sea rescue

Cliffs, tides, rocks, surf - the Cornish coast generates more rescue callouts than any other UK county. If you see anyone in difficulty in the water, on rocks cut off by tide, on a cliff, or stuck in mud:

  • Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Do not enter the water yourself - cold-water shock kills experienced swimmers in minutes.
  • HM Coastguard's Falmouth control room coordinates rescue across the South West. Non-emergency: 01326 317575.
  • RNLI lifeboats launch from 14 stations around Cornwall. Lifeguards patrol around 60 beaches between Easter and October - see our beach safety guide for which beaches and when.

Police

  • 999 - emergency, crime in progress, immediate danger
  • 101 - non-emergency. Lost property, theft after the event, advice. Operates 24 hours.
  • Devon and Cornwall Police at devon-cornwall.police.uk takes online reports for non-urgent matters.

Mobile signal and connectivity

Coverage in Cornwall is patchy outside towns. EE and Vodafone perform best across the county; O2 has good urban coverage but weaker rural reach; Three is the most likely to drop out on Bodmin Moor and around the Lizard. WhatsApp calls and FaceTime work over WiFi when mobile data fails - useful in many cottages with strong broadband.

For 999, dialling works on any network with any signal - even one you are not subscribed to. If you have no signal at all, send a 999 SMS (you have to register first by texting "register" to 999 - do this before you need it).

Money and payments

  • Cards everywhere. Contactless and Apple/Google Pay are standard, including most car parks and ferries.
  • Cash for backup. Some smaller cafes, fishing-village ice-cream kiosks, and farmers' markets are still cash-only. £20-£30 in cash covers most situations.
  • ATMs are in every town and most large villages. Free-to-use machines are at supermarkets and Post Offices; some pub or shop ATMs charge £1.50 - £2.95.
  • Tipping. 10-12.5% in restaurants if service is not already added. Round up taxis. Tipping is not expected in pubs.

Postcodes and SatNav

Cornish postcodes are TR (Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, St Ives), PL (Plymouth side - Saltash, Looe, Liskeard, Bodmin, Wadebridge), and EX (Bude only). What3Words is genuinely useful here: many beach car parks and remote cottages have postcodes that send SatNav to the wrong gate or village. Most cottage operators now provide a what3words address as well as a postcode in their welcome packs.

Lost property

  • Trains: GWR lost property at Penzance and Plymouth, online form at gwr.com
  • Buses: Transport for Cornwall - return to depot via the operator listed on your ticket
  • Beaches: Lifeguard hut during patrolled hours; otherwise the nearest cafe or beach kiosk
  • Anywhere else: 101 (police non-emergency)

Accessibility services

Cornwall has a growing network of Changing Places toilets, beach wheelchairs at major beaches, and Blue Badge parking in most council car parks. See our dedicated accessibility guide for current locations and booking arrangements.

A few other useful things

  • Vehicle breakdown - the AA, RAC, and Green Flag all cover Cornwall. Recovery from the far west to a home garage in the Midlands is a long, expensive day; check that your policy includes onward travel before you set out.
  • Tide times - Easy Tide (admiralty.co.uk/easytide) and Tide Times UK are free. Always check before walking to a tidal beach (Holywell, Kynance, Pedn Vounder) or rock pool.
  • Weather - the BBC Weather app and Met Office are accurate. For surf, Magic Seaweed; for sailing, the Met Office Inshore Waters forecast.
  • Public toilets - Cornwall Council runs around 200 public conveniences. Most charge 20-50p (card payment widely accepted). Free toilets in supermarkets, larger pubs, and National Trust car parks for members.
  • Recycling on holiday - cottages and parks all have separate bins. If in doubt, check with your host. Beach litter belongs in the bin or your bag, never the dunes.

FAQs

What number do I call in an emergency in Cornwall?

Dial 999 for police, fire, ambulance, or coastguard. For non-life-threatening medical issues call NHS 111. The 112 European emergency number also works in the UK and routes to the same operators.

Where is the nearest A&E in Cornwall?

Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, Truro (TR1 3LJ) is the only 24-hour A&E within Cornwall. From east Cornwall, Derriford Hospital in Plymouth (PL6 8DH) is closer. West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance has an Urgent Treatment Centre open 8am to midnight, but not full A&E.

Can I see a doctor as a visitor?

Yes. NHS care for accidents and emergencies is free for everyone. For minor injuries use one of the nine Minor Injury Units around Cornwall - faster than A&E for sprains, cuts, and minor fractures. For non-urgent issues, NHS 111 can advise or arrange a GP appointment.

Is there a 24-hour pharmacy in Cornwall?

No 24-hour pharmacy operates in Cornwall. Tesco and Asda pharmacies in Truro, Bodmin, and Penzance run extended hours, typically until 10pm. Outside these hours, NHS 111 can direct you to the nearest emergency pharmacy rota.

Where is the nearest emergency vet?

CVets in Truro (01872 560952) covers nights and weekends across central Cornwall. Penmellyn Vets at St Columb runs 24/7, and MiNightVet Falmouth handles south coast emergencies. Always call ahead - several practices share a single out-of-hours rota.

Last reviewed 2026-04-30. Phone numbers, opening hours, and services change. Always confirm with the provider before relying on details for an emergency.