Aspects of Cornwall's three maternity units require improvement, health watchdogs have revealed today.

The Care Quality Commission criticised the facilities at the county's main maternity unit in Truro, and said the maternity service at Penrice in St Austell required improvement in two out of three areas - the categories of "safe" and "overall".

The inspections were carried out in 2022 as part of a national maternity services inspection programme.

The main birthing unit in Truro, which delivers the majority of the county’s babies, was rated good in the domains of safe and well-led, and therefore retained its overall rating of good.

The Helston birthing centre was rated good overall and across both domains, while the centre in St Austell was rated requires Improvement overall and in the domain of safe, and good in the well-led domain.

The CQC report said women and babies "generally received good care" and in all services, "leaders had the skills and abilities to meet people's needs".

However, inspectors said access to adult resuscitation equipment must improve at Penrice Birthing Unit, and had concerns that staff adhere to a baby abduction policy.

Sally Brittain, director of midwifery said: “The team and I are really pleased to receive the report following a positive inspection visit from the CQC.

"The inspectors commented on the many changes and improvements that we’ve made in terms of leadership, safety, and patient experience.

"Inspectors particularly commented on our very positive relationship with the Maternity Voices Partnership and the focus on continual improvement and innovation.

“The service had enough staff to care for women and birthing people and keep them safe. Staff had training in key skills, and worked well together for the benefit of women, birthing people and babies."

The environment in Truro was one of the areas of improvement highlighted by the CQC.

Work has begun on preparing the site for a new Women and Children’s Hospital at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

The new facility will bring together all women and children’s services into a single building.

Ms Brittain said health chiefs will "use the findings as we work in collaboration with the Maternity Voices Partnership to make further improvements to our services. We have already revised our mandatory training programme, to address the feedback from the CQC."

The overall CQC rating for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust remains as requires improvement.