Today we reveal a change of name for our super hospital which will serve the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham from 2022.
Renamed The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, it acknowledges the Trust’s partnership with education providers across the West Midlands and deepening engagement with research.
The new name was confirmed at a special event held at the new build, which marked the restarting of work by Balfour Beatty on the multi-million pound site, alongside academic and industry partners, as well as local politicians and patient groups.
Toby Lewis, Chief Executive said: “The new name recognises the abiding excellence of our work with Birmingham University, and our nursing collaborations with Wolverhampton and with Birmingham City. It also commemorates this year’s start of clinical placements within Aston Medical School, for which the Trust is the largest party.”
Guests were treated to information and films at a number of exhibition stands, as well as a virtual reality experience of the hospital which shows it completed. There was information about how it would serve the population in terms of clinical services, regeneration in the area, education, research and development. Construction partner Balfour Beatty were on hand describing their workforce model including their investment in local apprenticeships, and ENGIE UK who have been awarded the facilities management contract for the hospital, were present to demonstrate their zero carbon energy ambitions.
Toby added: “Recommencing building work on the Midland Met is really important. The re-start brings jobs back to our community and signals the work to ensure that suppliers, shops and other businesses can begin to plan for their role in our future. We are delighted that both Local Authorities are committed to work on local regeneration as we look to ensure that this investment is more than a hospital. Homes on the old City site and work on transport and housing locally represents a major change to the local landscape.”
Looking forward to what the new hospital will mean, Medical Director, Dr David Carruthers said: “Not only does a single site for acute care help clinicians to deliver better outcomes for our patients, but the design of the hospital has been carefully thought through to enhance what we do. Half of the bed spaces are in single rooms. There are indoor and outdoor amenity and exercise spaces. Facilities like our art gallery, gardens, and meeting spaces will support us to learn and to reflect. We have all waited a very long time for the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and my colleagues are truly excited for what this transformation will mean for the local NHS.”
Thomas Edgcumbe, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Regional North and Midlands business, said: “This is an exciting moment for the local community, our expert team and all of those involved in the delivery of this significant scheme – we are delighted to restart works at the newly renamed Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.
“The delivery of this project will not only provide an advanced centre for healthcare services in the region but also help support the local economy by creating a significant number of employment and apprenticeship opportunities.”