Clinical Matron Emergency Department & Urgent Treatment Centre (WCH) in Truro

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an experienced and motivated Matron to join our Emergency Department and Urgent Treatment Centre leadership team during an exciting period of transformation. Our busy Emergency Department cares for approximately 260 patients each day and receives a high volume of ambulance arrivals from across Cornwall. As Cornwall's Trauma Unit, we provide specialist care for major trauma patients while managing a wide range of complex presentations unique to our geography.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of urgent and emergency care, including the development of a new co-located UTC alongside the Emergency Department. The successful candidate will contribute to service transformation, workforce development and the strategic direction of our newly formed division. Working closely with the Clinical Lead and Nurse Consultant, the Matron will provide visible, professional leadership to ensure high standards of patient care, safety, quality and staff experience.

The role combines operational management, professional leadership and continuous service improvement. In addition to responsibilities within ED, the post holder will provide oversight of the Urgent Treatment Centre at West Cornwall Hospital, supporting consistent standards across multiple sites. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced senior nurse leader to make a significant contribution to the delivery of urgent and emergency care in Cornwall.

The Matron will provide visible, compassionate and professional leadership across the ED and UTC, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective care. Working closely with the Clinical Lead, Nurse Consultant and Service Manager, the post holder will lead on nursing quality, patient safety, workforce development, operational performance and service improvement across the Emergency Department, and the UTC at West Cornwall Hospital.

The role includes providing professional leadership to nursing teams, promoting a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous improvement. The Matron will ensure high standards of care through effective governance, quality assurance and risk management processes. The successful candidate will lead workforce planning, recruitment, retention, education and succession planning, while supporting patient flow, escalation management and achievement of operational and quality standards.

They will work collaboratively with clinical and operational colleagues to deliver sustainable service improvements and improved outcomes for patients and staff. The Matron will lead investigations, quality improvement initiatives and service developments arising from incidents, complaints, patient feedback and national priorities.

A relocation package is available for the successful candidate into this role, and we welcome discussion about this at interview. Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is at the heart of acute and specialist care for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We care for a population of around 470,000 people, a number that increases during visitor seasons. We employ around 6,700 staff, united by a shared commitment to deliver safe, high-quality care.

We provide services across three main hospital sites, with around 780 inpatient beds: Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance. As a teaching hospital, we’re proud to work in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, the University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School, supporting the next generation of health professionals.

We’re committed to staying at the forefront of medical advance; investing in our people, developing our facilities, and expanding the specialist care we can offer locally so more patients can receive the care they need closer to home. We have a growing reputation for research and innovation that helps shape better care for the future. The Knowledge Spa, located on our Truro site, is a vibrant hub for medical, nursing and professional education across clinical and non-clinical roles. It plays a vital role in attracting, developing and retaining highly skilled teams.

We are driven by one clear ambition, Outstanding Care for One and All, care that’s safe, kind and high-quality. To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following: Identity Checks, Professional registration and qualification checks, Employment history and reference checks, Occupational Health clearance, Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check, Right to work in the UK.

For further information please visit: NHS Employers. We reserve the right to close this advert early. We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview. We may be able to offer sponsorship but this is not guaranteed. This advert closes on Wednesday 26 Aug 2026.