Construction firm has started work on a £9 million project to build a new Outpatient Department at West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on 21 February and marked the start of a 14-month construction programme that will see a modern, fit-for-purpose outpatient unit complete in March 2025 and open to patients in April 2025. The investment reflects the key role West Cornwall Hospital plays in the provision of acute hospital care in Cornwall and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals’ commitment to delivering more care close to home.


The new building will provide modern and technically-advanced facilities in which staff will be able to provide face-to-face and virtual care in an accessible and patient-focused environment. It will also be the first major project on an RCHT site to have solar panels incorporated into the design to generate sustainable energy to support the unit.

Chris Couch , Area Manager, Kier said: "We're delighted, once again, to be working with RCHT on this major capital project at West Cornwall Hospital, so soon after the completion of The Mermaid Centre and the Tremenel Unit at Truro’s Royal Cornwall Hospital. We are passionate about healthcare, and about partnership working, and we will work closely with RCHT and local residents to deliver an outstanding new Outpatient Department."