In a statement released to the press this week, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has been accused of issuing false assurances to staff and the public about its intentions to close Falmouth Hospital. The hospital, which mainly caters to elderly and less-abled patients, but which also operates a Minor Injuries Unit, has been rumoured to close for a number of years. Despite this, many in the local community were shocked when the Trust announced the potential closure of its 20-bed Boscawen Ward in September.

The proposal was reportedly scrapped in October, as announced at a meeting of Cornwall Council’s Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee. David Wilson, area director of CFT made clear to the public that the Trust were listening to the community and staff. And despite a leak published by the Falmouth Packet, alleging that there were still plans to scrap at least four of the beds, the Trust remained firm in its messaging to staff and the community that Falmouth Hospital would not see a reduction in its capacity.

However, a statement released by an anonymous source within Falmouth Hospital alleges otherwise. The full statement reads:

“So after all their posturing, all their assurances, all of the meetings (staff, public & private), all of the public statements, it turns out that on 1st May 2026 Cornwall Foundation Trust will be closing Falmouth Hospital. Just the wards as previously outlined? Turns out perhaps not!

“Having previously cited the age demographic as the reason for closing the wards, Cornwall Foundation Trust is now using apparent heating, plumbing & drainage issues as a reason to close the site, with staff being told: ‘there is no need for community hospitals’.

“Staff are now scrambling for jobs that don’t exist. Since when did the NHS have too many clinical staff? Highly trained staff are walking away from a profession most have dedicated their working lives to.

“Cornwall Foundation Trust has continuously and deliberately misled its staff and the public. No doubt its response will be the usual ‘patients recover faster and happier in their own homes’ — no they don’t. When someone in their mid-70s is dropped at home for their partner of the same age to care for them, or a family member must give their time and perhaps their job to provide care…

“Cornwall Foundation Trust would have us believe that there is an ‘army’ of community nurses out there. No, there isn’t.

“As far as CFT are concerned, a relative receiving carer’s allowance is cheaper than paying clinical staff. These decisions are being made by bean counters who far outnumber the staff delivering care. This is an utterly shameful way to treat their staff and the public.”

Falmouth Community Hospital is one of a network of hospitals under the direction of Cornwall Foundation Trust, alongside facilities in Helston, Newquay, St Austell, and Bodmin. CFT’s community hospitals provide rehabilitation care after falls, strokes and surgeries, and as staff have pointed out, they are able to support patients in a more comprehensive fashion than at-home rehabilitation.

A spokesperson from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said:

“We have been made aware of an unapproved briefing given to staff at Falmouth Community Hospital which contains information that is not an accurate reflection of our current position. This briefing has been rescinded, and we are sorry for any distress it has caused to staff and the local community.

“As the way we provide services continues to evolve in line with the national 10-year Plan expectation to move care from hospitals into communities and people’s homes, we remain committed to the hospital as a much-valued local asset. We will be working with our local population and staff to co-design how we best deliver services moving forward.

“As part of our commitment to the hospital, there are plans to upgrade and install a new heating system. This may happen in the spring of 2026 but an exact date is to be confirmed. As we do during all planned works in any of our buildings, we will need to consider how we safely operate services, including our inpatient ward, during that time. Should this mean different working arrangements, we will of course consult with staff.”

Concerns remain about the potential closure of Falmouth Hospital, and have increased in the wake of “mixed messages” from administrative and consulting staff at Trust. Further staff consultation has been scheduled for the near future.

Image Via: Cobblestone Media.