Proposals were drawn up some time ago for an impressive new hospital on Grove Lane, Smethwick. This state-of-the-art facility would provide A&E, maternity, children’s services, critical care, diagnostics and a full range of other acute hospital services with modern facilities and the latest technology and equipment. Community hospitals providing day surgery, diagnostics, outpatients and some intermediate care beds would remain at the Birmingham Treatment Centre on the City Hospital site and in the newest part of Sandwell General Hospital. Other community facilities would be established: urgent care and out-of-hours services would be provided closer to home as an alternative to A&E.
The scheme came to a halt after a Treasury review of Private Finance Initiatives. However, on 5th December 2012, the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave the go-ahead for the hospital under revised private financing arrangements called PF2, in a scheme valued at £350 million.