Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro this morning.

Mr Johnson met with children and staff members at the hospital's paediatric department.

He then answered questions from journalists.

Due to security reasons, we were unable to confirm the location until after the visit.

Pictures and videos will be posted in the blog below. Scroll down to see the latest.

Measles vaccine

During his visit Mr Johnson announced a number of measures designed to improve vaccination rates, including for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).

The PM has now called for health leaders to renew their efforts to meet 95% for both doses of MMR.

Currently just 87% of children are getting their second dose of the jab, which has likely contributed to the spread of measles.

Ahead of the hospital visit Mr Johnson said: “After a period of progress where we were once able to declare Britain measles free, we’ve now seen hundreds of cases of measles in the UK this year. One case of this horrible disease is too many, and I am determined to step up our efforts to tackle its spread.

“This is a global challenge and there’s a number of reasons why people don’t get themselves or their children the vaccines they need, but we need decisive action across our health service and society to make sure communities are properly immunised.

“From reassuring parents about the safety of vaccines, to making sure people are attending follow-up appointments, we can and must do more to halt the spread of infectious, treatable diseases in modern-day Britain.”

Hospital upgrades

Earlier this month Mr Johnson announced that 20 NHS organisations will receive a share of £850 million in new funding for upgrades.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) will receive £99.9 million which will go towards a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the centre of the Royal Cornwall Hospital  site in Truro. It will also be the main entrance for the hospital.

Reacting to the news, Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) says it is the biggest ever single investment Cornwall has seen in local health services.

The trust says the new unit will house services currently provided by the Princess Alexandra Wing, which despite recent improvements has "a limited life-span".

Concept drawings of the proposed development of Women’s & Children’s Unit at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

Labour responds to PM's Truro visit

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s visit, Jennifer Forbes, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Truro and Falmouth, said: “Whilst any extra investment in the Royal Cornwall Hospital is welcome, it comes following recent black alerts and reports of patients being treated in corridors.

“Health services in Cornwall are under extreme pressure, and this hasn’t been helped by years of the NHS being underfunded by the Tories. It puts staff under strain and puts patients at risk.

“Labour will ensure that our hardworking NHS staff get the funding and support they need.

“We also heard nothing about the Operation Yellowhammer warnings – No Deal would be disastrous for Cornwall, particularly for our farmers and hospitality industries.

“Despite claiming to be ‘half-Cornish,’ the Prime Minister neglected the real issues facing Cornwall; affordable housing, fair education funding, transport links and the tackling climate change.

“The Tories haven’t given Cornwall our fair share of funding; the next Labour government will invest in Cornwall through a Regional Investment Bank, kickstart a Green Industrial Revolution bringing sustainable green jobs to our county and take action to ensure local people can buy affordable homes in Cornwall.”

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Boris made an important promise to a Cornwall doctor

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has declared the pension age will not rise to 75 under his watch.

In a new report, the Centre for Social Justice - a Tory think tank - has proposed an increase of the pension age to 70 by 2028 and 75 by 2035.

The pension age is already set to increase to 67 by 2028 and to 68 by 2046 – but the organisation, co-founded by former Conservative leader and work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan-Smith, wants to see a faster increase.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson surveys the ceiling during a visit to Treliske
Prime Minister Boris Johnson surveys the ceiling during a visit to Treliske (Image: Peter Nicholls/PA Wire )

However, Mr Johnson told journalists in Truro on a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital that he wouldn’t increase the pension age.

He said: “I just met a paediatrician who said ‘whatever you do don’t raise the pension age’.

“I said I wouldn’t, so there you go. We have absolutely no plan to do so.”

An aghast PM added: “That’s a think tank proposal, that’s not our proposal, that’s not news!”

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The PM meets young patients

The Prime Minister met medical staff and patients during a visit to the paediatric ward of the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

He was accompanied by ward matron Melanie Gilbert and met five other members of staff who work on the ward.

Mr Johnson asked about the number of children attending the hospital during the summer, when many are on holiday in the region. ”You see more on a sunny day?” he asked. “Sunburn, falling off ponies, candy floss injuries?”

He told them: “My father was born in Penzance hospital. I don’t think they have a maternity unit there. It is all here.”

The Prime Minister talks to patient Logan Rock, 1, during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital
The Prime Minister talks to patient Logan Rock, 1, during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital (Image: Peter Nicholls/PA Wire )

The Prime Minister met patients including Logan Rock, one, who broke his leg on a family holiday to Cornwall.

Logan is now awaiting transport back to his home in Reading, as he must be taken by ambulance due to his broken leg.
Mr Johnson was visiting the hospital as it was announced that the UK has lost its measles-free status.

Boris Johnson talks to patient Scarlett Gibbons, 5, during a visit to the paediatric unit
Boris Johnson talks to patient Scarlett Gibbons, 5, during a visit to the paediatric unit (Image: Peter Nicholls/PA Wire )

”The UK generally has a great record on fighting measles but for the first time, we’re suddenly going in the wrong direction and we’re seeing an increase of about 230 new cases of measles just in the first few months of this year,” he said. ”I think there’s a couple of reasons.

”I think there’s complacency on the part of parents about the need to get that second vaccine but also, I’m afraid, people have been listening to that superstitious mumbo jumbo on the internet, all that anti-vax stuff and thinking that the MMR vaccine is a bad idea.That’s wrong.

”Please get your kids vaccinated because it’s not just the right thing for them, but also of course it is the right thing for the whole population because it might not be your kid that gets it, it could be somebody else’s.”

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When Boris met Mel

Matron for child health at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Mel Gilbert, gave the PM a tour of Polkerris Ward and the paediatrics unit at Treliske.
She said: “He was very friendly and approachable, and he was genuinely interested in everything we do. I think he was surprised that we were such a friendly, happy environment.”

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Looking relaxed as he talks to hospital staff

Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall
Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall (Image: PA)
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The Prime Minister leaving the hospital

Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves after a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall
Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves after a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall
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More from inside the hospital during the visit

Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks to patient Scarlett Gibbons, 5, during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall
Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks to patient Scarlett Gibbons, 5, during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall (Image: PA)
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Boris Johnson at the hospital

Meeting with staff

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with health professionals during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall
Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with health professionals during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall (Image: PA)

And patients

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets patient Logan Rock, 1, during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall
Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets patient Logan Rock, 1, during a visit to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall (Image: PA)
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From our man on the ground - Cornwall Live reporter Lee Trewhela

Boris Johnson spares time to take a selfie with Cornwall Live reporter Lee Trewhela
Boris Johnson spares time to take a selfie with Cornwall Live reporter Lee Trewhela

have been walking around the wards and talking to staff today and they are very interested (in the investment).

It looks beautiful and they do an amazing job but they need this.

Maternity needs it, neonatal needs it.

There’s a huge demand here - from kids who hurt themselves on holiday and the natural fertility rate of Cornwall.

The whole package of £100m is for infrastructure and staff. It’s the biggest ever NHS investment in Cornwall.

Boris Johnson

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