Health Minister Karin Smyth MP visited Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Thursday 15 October to meet frontline NHS staff and see how investment in education and training is helping local people prepare for careers in healthcare.
The Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) toured the hospital’s busy Emergency Department before visiting the new Midland Metropolitan Learning Campus, where she met students, apprentices, interns and staff involved in developing opportunities for the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Opened in October 2024, Midland Met is one of the NHS’s newest purpose-built acute hospitals, serving communities across Sandwell, West Birmingham and the surrounding areas. With 736 beds, including 50 per cent in single en-suite rooms, and 13 operating theatres, the hospital brings together acute, emergency, maternity and diagnostic services in a modern purpose-built healthcare environment.
During her visit, the Minister met clinical teams and heard about their experiences of delivering care in the new hospital, alongside the opportunities and challenges of responding to growing demand for NHS services.
The visit also provided an opportunity to highlight the work underway across the Trust to prepare for the increased pressures traditionally experienced during winter. This includes strengthening the use of virtual wards, which allow suitable patients to receive ongoing clinical monitoring and support in their own homes rather than remaining in hospital.
By identifying patients who could benefit from virtual ward care at the earliest opportunity and working closely with community healthcare teams, the Trust aims to support earlier discharge, improve patient flow and ensure hospital beds remain available for those who need them most during the busy winter months.
The Minister then visited the brand-new £18 million Midland Metropolitan Learning Campus, where she met T Level Health students from Sandwell College who are gaining practical experience through placements at Midland Met alongside their classroom-based studies.
She also visited the campus’s clinical simulation facilities, which recreate healthcare environments and allow students to develop practical skills and confidence before progressing into the workplace.
The Learning Campus has been developed through a partnership between Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Sandwell Council, Sandwell College, Aston University and the University of Wolverhampton and funded from the Government’s Towns Fund (via Sandwell Council), with £5 million investment from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and £650,000 co-funding from Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.
Located alongside the hospital, it brings education and training closer to frontline healthcare services, providing opportunities for more than 1,200 learners each year and helping local people develop the skills needed for careers in healthcare.
The Minister also met staff and participants involved in the Trust’s widening participation programmes, which aim to remove barriers to employment and create opportunities for people from local communities to access training, work experience and NHS careers.
Speaking during the visit Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care), commented: “It was fantastic to see first-hand how Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is delivering modern care while helping to build the NHS workforce of the future. As the NHS prepares for another busy winter, the dedication of staff and the hospital’s modern facilities will be vital in ensuring patients receive high-quality care when they need it most.
“By bringing high-quality education and training alongside frontline services, this new Learning Campus will give local people the skills, experience and confidence to pursue rewarding healthcare careers.
“Partnerships like this are vital to opening up opportunity, strengthening the local workforce and ensuring the NHS has the skilled professionals it needs to care for patients now and in the years ahead.”
Diane Wake, Group Chief Executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said: “We were pleased to welcome Karin Smyth to Midland Met and give her the opportunity to meet some of the colleagues delivering care to our patients, alongside the students and young people who could become part of our future NHS workforce. Midland Met is a significant investment in healthcare for the communities we serve.
“Every day, our teams care for hundreds of patients, many with complex and urgent needs, and the visit was an opportunity to highlight both their commitment, and the demands placed on our services. The Learning Campus is an important part of our ambition to create more opportunities for local people. By bringing education and healthcare together, we can help students gain the skills, experience and confidence they need to pursue careers in the NHS.
“Working with our education and community partners means we can support local people into employment while developing the workforce needed to meet the changing needs of our patients and communities.”
Lisa Capper MBE Principal & Chief Executive of Sandwell College added: “We were delighted to welcome Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State for Health to meet Sandwell College students and view the immersive facilities available at The Learning Campus. This partnership is an outstanding example of collaboration between education and healthcare, providing learners with access to industry-standard facilities, valuable real-world experience and clear routes into NHS careers. We have invested in creating exciting opportunities for young people and adult learners to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed in the healthcare sector.”