Monday, 4 July, 2022

Opening confirmed for Midland Met

The new acute and emergency hospital in the Midlands, the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital will be open for patients in 2024. The announcement comes following a reset of the construction programme, that has been impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The new hospital is being built in Smethwick in the West Midlands and brings together emergency and acute services at Sandwell General Hospital and City Hospital into a single, fit for purpose healthcare facility, operated by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

The new facility, combined with the associated changes to care pathways, will significantly improve clinical care and people’s experiences of health care services, as well as providing regeneration opportunities for the local area. The new development has experienced significant challenges over the past two years, and prior to this following the collapse of the former construction partner.

The Trust and Balfour Beatty, who have been progressing the building since 2019 are now being assisted by the New Hospital Programme team who have worked with Balfour Beatty to reset the programme and complete new commercial arrangements. This means that the new hospital will open in Spring 2024 and will provide for first class clinical care in the most up-to-date environment.

Talking about the new hospital, Trust Chairman, Sir David Nicholson, said: “I am delighted that we have reached this stage in the development and are able to confirm with confidence that we will open as soon as possible following completed construction of the building, which will be handed over to the Trust before the end of 2023.

“Balfour Beatty and the Trust teams have together been determined to progress the building work over the past two years and it is excellent to see just how many of the departments and clinical areas are nearing completion, to a very high standard.

“We are grateful to the new hospital programme team for their support in ensuring we have the resources and expert advice to complete this new hospital, that will serve the Sandwell and West Birmingham populations for at least 50 years. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver a great facility and improve health outcomes with the added benefits of regeneration for our local communities.”

Mark Bullock, Chief Executive Officer of Balfour Beatty’s UK Construction Services business, said: “We remain steadfast in our commitment to successfully completing this landmark project. Over the coming months, we will continue to work closely and collaboratively with Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and the new hospital programme team, to deliver this long-awaited healthcare facility; one that will provide significant benefits for the local community for many generations to come.”

The new hospital brings together acute and emergency services from across Sandwell and West Birmingham into a single purpose-built facility. The new model of care means that outpatient clinics, day case surgery and routine diagnostics will be provided from the Sandwell and City Hospital sites. Maternity services, emergency care, general surgery (not day case) and medical wards will all take place at MMUH.

As well as being a centre of excellence for clinical care and research, the new hospital is designed around a new therapeutic model of care, to encourage patients to maintain mobility and independence during a hospital stay. The hospital also houses public areas including a winter garden and 80m long art gallery that will be assets for the community. The hospital is one of 48 that the government has committed to deliver across the country by 2030 as part the biggest hospital building programme in a generation to provide state-of-the-art facilities and world-class healthcare provision for patients and staff.

Notes:

1. The building programme has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted on supply chain, workforce and materials. It has also been revised to accommodate a new external façade in light of new fire safety regulations. The construction has been additionally complex due to the collapse of the former contractor and has required a change in the design of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The region is benefitting from significant infrastructure developments, of which this hospital is one, including the Commonwealth Games and HS2.
2. The new hospital includes over 700 beds, 11 operating theatres, purpose-built emergency department with collocated diagnostics, 15 delivery rooms for maternity services, and a midwife-led birthing unit. Half of the beds are in single ensuite rooms.
3. Balfour Beatty have continued to work throughout the pandemic and currently employs 492 local people with over 800 people on site each day. 320 volunteer days have taken place and the company has supported 102 graduates, apprentices and trainees. During 2021, Balfour Beatty and their suppliers have installed main power to the site, 96 miles of sub-mains cabling, 13 miles of ducting, 570 tonnes of scaffold and 98 miles of pipework.

Friday, 14 February, 2020

New super hospital name announced at celebration ceremony

A new name has been for the super hospital which will serve the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham from 2022.

Renamed The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, it acknowledges Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS 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.”

Wednesday, 11 December, 2019

 Midland Met construction deal is signed

 

THE DEAL to finish the Midland Metropolitan has been signed today, promising the local community that the much needed hospital will be completed in 2022.

Midland Met brings together acute healthcare services for the population of Sandwell and Western Birmingham onto a single site in Smethwick, providing  state of the art clinical facilities and equipment, serving over 600,000 people.

Signing the contract was Richard Samuda, Chairman of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, and Chief Executive, Toby Lewis, who lead the organisation that will run the new facility, and Dean Banks, Chief Executive Officer of Balfour Beatty UK Construction Services whose company won the bid, and have been working on an early works contract on the emerging building for the past year.

Richard commented: “The people of Sandwell and West Birmingham have been waiting for this hospital for too long, as have our staff who are doing an incredible job delivering health care services from some buildings that are no longer best suited for modern healthcare services. This news cannot come soon enough for those colleagues. Reaching this milestone is testament to the determination of Trust colleagues and leaders in partner organisations, who, with the support of cross party political leaders, have enabled us to agree this contract to complete the hospital.”

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive added: “Today is about moving on and looking to the future, as we shortly welcome the return of all works and trades to the site to complete this vital facility. The Commonwealth Games comes to Birmingham in 2022, and we would like to be in our new home by then, bringing our clinical teams together to deliver the best acute services for our patients and their families.”

Dean Banks, Chief Executive Officer of Balfour Beatty UK Construction Services, said: “This is a key project for the Midlands and a long-awaited moment for healthcare services in the local community. Following the successful completion of the Early Works phase, we are pleased that we have been entrusted to deliver the final elements of the scheme. 

“Our wealth of experience and expertise will ensure that the Midland Metropolitan Hospital will service future generations for years to come.” 

Midland Met replaces acute and emergency services at Sandwell and City Hospitals. Those sites will continue providing outpatient clinics, day-case surgery and routine diagnostics. Our community beds are already in place to support the new model of care.  Our specialist Eye Centre (BMEC) and the Birmingham Treatment Centre (BTC) remain at City.  A 24/7 Urgent Care Centre will be housed on the Sandwell Hospital site with intermediate care facilities at both hospital sites.  Our facilities at Sandwell are being refurbished to provide similar quality accommodation to that of the BTC and Midland Met.

ENDS​

 

Saturday,12 October, 2019

Press Statement

Toby Lewis Chief Executive said: “Midland Met is a vital regeneration project for Smethwick, and part of the wider Commonwealth Games development across Birmingham, including Perry Barr. 

“We are working hard to open the hospital in 2022, and getting Balfour Beatty on site from December 2019 alongside our new Facilities Management partner, is a key step in that journey.  Today’s announcement by the Treasury is hugely welcome news.  We are working round the clock to conclude commercial close, and the agreement of the Final Business Case and appointment of a Preferred Bidder is the last national approval hurdle overcome.”

“The promise from Government in February 2018 was that no local NHS funds would need to be diverted to remedy the national collapse of Carillion.  That promise has been honoured in full, which has the overt support of all local stakeholders from across political divides. 

“We very much wish to deliver on the dividend across Sandwell and west Birmingham that uses the opening of the long-awaited new specialist acute hospital to release workforce time and NHS funds to better support primary, mental wellbeing and preventative services locally. 

“Our integrated care plans for local neighbourhoods are at the forefront of work in the Midlands to create a sustainable future NHS, and we look forward to delivering real change and better outcomes for the communities that we serve.” 

ENDS

Friday, 14 December, 2018

MP shows support with visit to Midland Met

John Spellar MP for Warley took time out of his busy schedule to drop in on Midland Met this morning to see for himself how the building is shaping up following the recommencement of work on site.
The visit comes as the Trust – Sandwell and West Birmingham – which will run the new hospital, is about to begin the process of tendering for a contractor to take over construction of the two thirds built emergency hospital. Building giant Balfour Beatty started work last month on the interim repair, making good the parts of the building that were left open to the elements since work stopped in January.
Trust Chief Executive Toby Lewis said: “We are pleased that Midland Met’s local MP, Mr John Spellar, took time out to visit the site and see the cranes in action once again.
“He has been very supportive of our efforts to ensure we have the funding in place and the right construction arrangements to finish the hospital, as an essential acute hospital which will transform the health and wellbeing of the local population, and bring investment and regeneration opportunities to the nearby area.”
Mr Spellar commented: “I am delighted to see work starting again on the site of this long awaited and much needed project. Toby Lewis and his team have worked tirelessly to bring this about. The people of Sandwell and West Birmingham have waited too long for this hospital and I have urged the management and Government to get this completed as soon as possible.”

 

Thursday, 18 October, 2018

Health Secretary shows support with visit to Midland Met

Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care visited the Midland Metropolitan Hospital today (18 October) and vowed “it will be built on time and in budget”.
The Minister was shown around the Smethwick-site as part of his whistle-stop tour of the West Midlands.
The visit comes as Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which will run the new hospital, is in the process of tendering for a contractor to take over construction of the two thirds built emergency hospital.
Building giant Balfour Beatty were appointed last month to take on the site, and will start work on Monday to make good the parts of the building that were left open to the elements since work stopped in January. After his tour, the Minister, said: “I’ve come to see how the Midland Met progress is going. Next week they are going to start the physical rebuilding of this hospital. The steels are going up and we’ve been to see where that is going to happen. We are back on track for a 2022 opening.
“The collapse of Carillion meant that an awful lot of work has had to go into getting this hospital going again. But I’ve been talking to the clinicians who are going to be working in the hospital and have been involved in the design. I’ve seen how it’s going to be one of the leading hospitals in the country….once complete.
“We’ve still got a long way to go but I am absolutely determined to do what we can do to make sure that this hospital gets built on time within the new budget and I’ll be making sure the team keeps to their promises.”
During the visit, the Health Minister met with clinicians from the Trust as well as the organisation’s Chief Executive Toby Lewis and Chairman Richard Samuda. He also spoke with representatives from Balfour Beatty. Mr Lewis said: “We were delighted to welcome Matt Hancock to Midland Met site to see for himself how well positioned it is in the heart of the community.
“It is critical to the future of healthcare in Birmingham and in Sandwell, serving both populations, many of whom do not recognise artificial boundaries, but want to use their local hospital.
“That new hospital will help to regenerate the surrounding area, with new transport links and commercial ventures as well as housing and schools.
“With a new swimming pool coming locally for the Commonwealth Games, 2022 will be an exciting time for Smethwick.”  

Friday, 21 September, 2018

In August the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed their support for the Trust’s strategy to finish the Midland Metropolitan Hospital.  A publicly financed direct contract will be let, with procurement commencing in November.  Prior to that a smaller contract is being awarded to ensure that the damage caused to the building by weather since the demise of Carillion is remedied, and the building prepared for completion of construction.
Since July the Trust has a run a due procurement process, consistent with a major contract of over £10m in value.  We expect to have our contractor take on the site from November, if not sooner, and for work to take over six months.
Balfour Beatty have been selected as the preferred supplier for this Early and Enabling Works Contract.
Commenting on the decision, Chief Executive Toby Lewis said: “We are delighted to enter this partnership with Balfour Beatty to take the important next steps in completing the Midland Met.  It has been sad to see the building standing paused for the last nine months, and so it is great news that work will shortly restart.  We are grateful for the considerable support that we have had locally and nationally to move forward.  We are investing in our existing buildings for the interim period but there is no doubt that a new single acute and emergency hospital in Smethwick is what the local NHS needs to provide the very best care.  It also releases money to invest in primary care and mental health services.  Today’s decision brings that transformation closer.”

Friday, 16 August, 2018

Trust’s plan to  finish the Midland Metropolitan Hospital gets Government approval and public funding 

Eight months after the collapse of Carillion, and the consequent pause on construction of the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick, the project’s future has been secured. 

The new build will be the main acute hospital for almost three quarters of a million people across north and west Birmingham and the borough of Sandwell.  Completion will unlock resources to invest more in local general practice and mental health services, and is the centrepiece of a strategy for integrated care which is at the forefront of the NHS Five Year Forward View, and anticipates the ten year plan for the NHS, due to be unveiled later in 2018.

In early August 2018, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust launched a competition to win an enabling works contract to prevent the deterioration of the construction site.  That contract is to be awarded in September.

At the same time, the Board of the Trust reversed prior decisions to proceed on a private finance model, and opted for a direct contract with a building contractor to finish the new hospital, with funds to be provided from central Government.  This proposal was submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care and to the Treasury on August 2nd.

Now Minister of State for Health, Steve Barclay MP, has confirmed the position:

“Our long term plan will see the NHS receive £20.5 billion a year more than it currently does by 2023, but our commitment does not stop there, as this important partnership shows.

“By taking this bold step, we are not only giving patients in Sandwell and west Birmingham world-class NHS facilities on their doorstep but also showing our determination to build an NHS fit for the future – all whilst making sure taxpayers’ money is spent in the best possible way”.

Commenting on the announcement by Government, Trust Chief Executive Toby Lewis said:

“This is absolutely fantastic news.  After a huge amount of work by teams across Whitehall and the Trust, and with the voices of local residents, clinicians, and stakeholders having been being clearly heard, we are delighted that we now have a definitive publicly financed plan.  We will continue to engage with the construction market over coming weeks and build towards a formal procurement by November this year.  We always said Midland Met would be delivered and the doubters were wrong.  The Prime Minister’s promise is being honoured.

“Midland Met will open in 2022, and by then our partnerships with local GPs, schools and care homes will be even deeper and more integrated than today. This is a vote of confidence in our publicly financed construction plan, and in our STP strategy as a whole.  The new hospital is about improving the outcomes of patient care and about regeneration and public health.  We need to finish the job and seize the benefits.”

Friday, 20 April, 2018

Partnership continues to aim for completion of Midland Met Hospital in 2020

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust this week received more, and ongoing, welcome support to progress the construction of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, that was affected by the insolvency of Carillion announced in January 2018.  Clinical quality issues in urgent and emergency care, and workforce recruitment issues, drive a view that this vital new hospital, that is two-thirds built, proceeds rapidly.  This will mean that patients can receive safe, high quality care in purpose-built facilities, seven days a week.

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive, welcomed the continued support from partners. He said: “This week has demonstrated the absolute commitment from all involved to work together to get this project back on track, so that the new hospital can open in 2020. That means construction work re-starting in the spring sunshine enabling our patients to get the long-awaited new acute and emergency hospital that they deserve.

“I am pleased that so many partners are behind the project, including local MPs John Spellar and James Morris, and the West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street. The Prime Minister reiterated her commitment during PMQs on Wednesday and we are hopeful that we will get the green light to progress a solution to get the hospital completed in 2020.

“The Trust’s Board does not yet have a final view on how to finance and construct this key project.  But what is clear is that a decision point must come soon and that if at all possible we need to bring an end to site degradation, which is costing money week by week on rework.  We have published an estimate of the extra cost that private or public funders will need to meet and we are working constructively with all partners to finalise decisions.

“We are not lobbying anyone for anything, though we welcome Andy’s letter.  What we are doing is undertaking our public duty to keep local taxpayers and NHS staff informed and involved in this critical project.”

To watch Andy Street’s video about the Midland Met Hospital, go to  https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/987010947704410114

Tuesday 16 January 2018

Press statement: Midland Metropolitan and Carillion

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive, said: “It has been abundantly clear over the last 24 hours how much the completion of the Midland Met means to the plans and ambitions of partner organisations locally.  We have worked together for over a decade to develop the plans to invest more money into primary and community care, and redesign acute care.  That plan is ‘two thirds built’ with the new hospital, and partners are anxious to re-establish timescale clarity.  We are working to do just that with The Hospital Company, and now with PwC and government officials.  We welcome the commitment to project continuation offered yesterday in Parliament, which has reassured staff, working to provide NHS care here, that this overdue project remains a priority.”

Monday 15 January 2018

Press statement: Midland Metropolitan Hospital and Carillion

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive, said: “I have spent time today on the construction site of the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital and I have had a number of discussions with key stakeholders including The Hospital Company who hold the contract for building the hospital.
“We will be working hard over the next few days and weeks to resolve any uncertainty over how this vital NHS acute hospital gets completed in 2019.”

—

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive, said: “We regret this morning’s announcement concerning Carillion, who are the constructor for our long awaited new hospital, which is almost complete. We are working closely with HM Treasury and The Hospital Company as alternative arrangements are put in place to ensure that the construction of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital is completed.  People working for Carillion are part of our local community and we will want to do anything that we can do to support their needs and futures at this difficult time.”

Friday 14th July 2017

Mayor of West Midlands marks major milestone for “super hospital”

 The newly elected West Midlands Mayor Andy Street led the celebrations for the Topping Out ceremony at the Midland Metropolitan Hospital today (Friday, July 14).

Andy Street marked the major milestone at a music-filled event which was held at the site in Cranford Street, Smethwick, which is currently under construction.

The Topping Out ceremony falls on Black Country Day and is exactly three years since the project was given funding approval from the Treasury.

During the celebration, the last piece of steel was placed on the 10^th floor, the highest point of the hospital, which is being built by support services firm Carillion for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust (SWBH).

The Mayor, along with SWBH’s Chief Executive Toby Lewis, Chairman Richard Samuda, Dr Sarb Clare, Clinical Lead for AMU, Dr Nuhu Usman, Clinical Director for Emergency Care and Mr Prem John, Speciality Lead for Emergency care at City Hospital, all signed a plaque and made a hand imprint into a special concrete block.

This will eventually be inserted into the building alongside the plaque.

The Mayor said: “It has been a pleasure to be at the Topping Out ceremony today and play a small part in what is a fantastic project which will help to drive up the quality of clinical services in Birmingham and Sandwell.

“However, this is also a major regeneration opportunity, using old industrial land and helping to act as a catalyst for the development of brownfield sites around it.

“The new hospital is also supporting local enterprises and the voluntary sector, as well as inspiring and engaging local schools.

“I congratulate everybody involved and look forward to seeing the finished and fully-functioning hospital.”

Chief Executive Toby Lewis added: “Today marks another definitive step towards opening our acute and emergency super centre.

“The new Midland Metropolitan Hospital will serve half a million people across Birmingham and the Black Country. Quality of care will be improved on a seven day basis. And the hospital will be a hub for community regeneration.

“We congratulate Carillion on their work with us and look forward to opening the Midland Metropolitan in Spring 2019.”

The ceremony was followed by musical performances from Bristnall Hall Academy Orchestra, The Westminster School and Dreemz Choir.

A video flythrough of the new hospital showed how will look when it is completed. The attendees were also shown footage of various school and community visits that had taken place at the site, by students who were interested in the development.

The Treasury officially announced on July 14, in 2014, that it approved the £353 million hospital to be funded through both the public and private sector.

Since then a staggering 800 people have been employed to construct the building, and it is expected to continue to boost the economy.

David Hollywood, Carillion Project Director said: “We are delighted to be marking the Topping Out at Midland Metropolitan Hospital today. We are proud to be a part of this project which has already created a host of opportunities for businesses and people in the local area by providing jobs, skills, training and apprenticeships and when it is complete, will provide state-of-the-art healthcare facilities for the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham for many years to come.”

The hospital will bring together acute services and boast a wealth of new technology including hi-tech diagnostic equipment.

A glass-fronted winter garden on the fifth floor, will not only be an inviting place for staff, patients and visitors to meet but it will also be the welcome and navigation centre for the hospital. Visitors will be able to find their way with the help of clear signs, volunteers and digital wayfinding.

Plans also include a huge car park with underground access to wards and departments.

Wednesday, 24th May, 2017

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust have today announced that the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital, which is being built in Smethwick to serve the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham, will open later than anticipated.

The hospital brings together maternity services, emergency care, inpatient care and surgery for people who need to stay for longer than 24 hours, onto a single, purpose-built facility on Grove Lane. Outpatient care, diagnostics, day case surgery and rehabilitation wards will be provided at the existing Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis Hospitals.

Speaking about progress of the new hospital, Chief Executive of the health Trust, Toby Lewis, said: “We can confirm, with regret, that the opening of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital will be delayed from October 2018 until early spring 2019.

“The mechanical and electrical design for the new building, which is being built by Carillion, is behind schedule and, despite everyone’s best efforts, cannot match the programme needed for our planned opening date.

“We have taken the difficult decision to delay the opening to ensure that the building performs to the very highest standards from the outset.

“We expect to be able to confirm the exact opening date later in summer 2017.”

Carillion Project Director, David Hollywood said: “Midland Met will be a state-of-the-art facility when it is completed. We have made tremendous progress since the first spade in the ground in January last year so we are disappointed with this delay.

“The mechanical and electrical (M&E) design, which covers building systems such as heating, lighting and ventilation, is behind schedule and we are working closely with the Trust and our specialist design consultant to complete the M&E design and confirm a new completion date.

“This is a complex project which is designed to support the efficient delivery of high-quality clinical services and facilities for many years to come. When it is completed it will be in the top 10 per cent of non-domestic UK buildings in terms of sustainable performance – achieving a BREEAM Excellent Rating, and every room will be individually climate controlled for greater levels of comfort. These features will help improve outcomes for patients and provide a better working environment for staff.”

Friday, 22nd January, 2016

Today marks the start of a 1000 day countdown to the opening of the new state-of-the-art hospital – The Midland Met.

 Marking the event, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust has asked local representatives to unveil digital clocks at four main sites across the Trust to count down the 1000 days until the Midland Met is opened.

Chair of the Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Board, Cllr Paulette Hamilton will unveil the clock at City Hospital at 9.15am, while Leader of Sandwell Council Cllr Darren Cooper will do the same at Sandwell Hospital at 9.30am. Simultaneously at Rowley Regis Hospital, James Morris MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, will unveil the clock in main reception, to be followed at 10am with Bill Hodgetts from Healthwatch Sandwell doing the honours at Leasowes Intermediate Care Centre.

This will be followed at 11am by a celebratory event on the Grove Lane Midland Met site hosted by SWBH NHS Trust Chairman Richard Samuda. He commented: “Today is a historic one for our local communities, as we move within 1000 days of the opening of our new hospital. Focusing acute beds on one site is something that our clinicians are particularly enthusiastic about as it will guarantee that we continue to provide long into the future, the leading service we are so proud of.”

Dr Nick Harding OBE, Local GP and Chair of NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG will begin the countdown, he said: “It’s a real privilege to start the countdown to the hospital; a moment Right Care Right Here partners have been working towards for over ten years. Midland Met Hospital is more than just a new building, it represents all of our aspirations to deliver quality care for patients and support Sandwell and West Birmingham to be a healthier and better place to live.”

On the agenda is a multifaith ceremony to bless the ground the future hospital will stand on. SWBH NHS Trust Lead Chaplain Ann Stevenson commented: ““The Chaplaincy team has been given an extraordinary privilege to pray a blessing for the ground and the new hospital build. Dedicating the ground for the purposes of health and healing will be basis of the words we use.”

Adam Green, Managing Director, Carillion Construction Services said: “Today is a momentous day and Carillion is very proud to mark the beginning of the construction of this hospital. This project will help create a wealth of opportunities for local people and businesses, through jobs, skills, training and apprenticeships and when it is complete the hospital will provide state-of-the-art healthcare for the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham for years to come.”

The Trust’s website has all the latest details of the Midland Met, with the plans for what services will be located at other sites within the Trust. The Birmingham Treatment Centre will remain, and a new Sandwell Treatment Centre will be developed on the Sandwell General site. A video ‘flythrough’ has been developed to illustrate what the new hospital will look like. It can all be found on www.swbh.nhs.uk.

Friday, 11th December, 2015

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR NEW MIDLAND MET HOSPITAL

It’s a go for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust patients, as the contract to build new hospital the Midland Met is finally signed.

 Trust Chairman Richard Samuda said: “Today we have signed the contract to build and deliver the Midland Met by October 2018 with ‘The Hospital Company’ – a Carillion Joint Venture.

“This is another landmark day for the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham, who now know for certain that their multi-million pound hospital will be built, and at a significantly lower cost than was originally planned. The OBC (outline business case) in 2014 anticipated an annual unitary payment of £27m, however we have closed the contract with an annual unitary payment of under £19.6m.

“We are also pleased to have signed the contract some four months earlier than we aimed for, and look forward to the Midland Met being handed over in July 2018 and opening in October 2018.”

The Midland Met Hospital will be delivered through a Public Private Partnership under a 30-year concession contract using the UK Government’s PF2 model.

The new hospital is only one of several major developments planned for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, with an expanded intermediate care centre on the City Hospital site and the Sandwell Treatment Centre on the current Sandwell General Hospital site. The Sandwell Treatment Centre will house a large urgent care centre.

With a proven link between ill health and socio-economic factors, the Midland Met will contribute to improving the health of the local communities through economic regeneration as well as direct healthcare delivery, contributing to improvements to the surrounding environment. The Trust has been working closely with partners on a range of initiatives to provide opportunities for local businesses to benefit from the development of the Midland Met, for example by providing employment for local people, including local apprentices to work on the development, and encouraging investment to build new homes in the area.

 Dr Nick Harding, Chair of NHS Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group said: “This is fantastic news for local people in Sandwell and West Birmingham. For over 10 years health and social care partners have been working towards the Midland Met Hospital, which will provide the state of the art treatment that local people deserve and need.

“The new hospital is an essential part of our wider Right Care Right Here plans to create a sustainable health and social care system, which also involves bringing more services into the community, improving access to primary care and much more. Today’s announcement brings us one step nearer to delivering our exciting vision for local healthcare.”

Adam Green, Managing Director, Carillion Construction Services commented: “Carillion is delighted to have reached financial close and we look forward to working with Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver a state-of-the-art hospital that will enable the Trust to achieve its objectives for delivering significant improvements in healthcare services for the local community for many years to come.”

Trust Chief Executive Toby Lewis added: “We have anticipated this day for some time and welcome financial close as a pivotal moment for our Trust. A new hospital for half a million people locally in 2018 is imperative if we are to improve outcomes of care and make the local NHS a fantastic place in which to work.”

Thursday, 24th September, 2015

 

Final planning approval was granted last night for the Midland Met new hospital on Grove Lane in Smethwick.

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council planning committee gave the multi-million pound hospital the green light to proceed on its brownfield site in the heart of Smethwick. This is the culmination of years of planning, consultation with the local population, and engagement with staff.

Midland Met brings emergency and acute healthcare for both adults and children onto a single site.  This means that the most complex care provided by the Trust can happen consistently seven days a week.  Meanwhile, outpatient services, intermediate care facilities and planned surgery will continue and be further developed on the City Hospital and Sandwell General Hospital sites.  That means that most care presently provided locally will stay local.  The Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre remains on Dudley Road.   The Trust continues to expand services in community locations such as Rowley Regis, as well as to provide more care from strategic primary care locations like Neptune Health Centre in Tipton and Tower Hill Medical Centre in Perry Barr.

Chairman, Richard Samuda, said: “This is yet another exciting step in the decade long campaign to bring 21st century hospital care to local residents and create an environment that staff can be proud to work within.  This is the last-but-one step, with the Trust now able to proceed to try and sign a contract, with our preferred supplier.  We aim to do that before January 2016.”

• Midland Met is due to open in Autumn 2018. It will have 669 beds and 13 operating theatre suites, as well as modern diagnostic equipment.  The new A&E will replace emergency care facilities at City Hospital, and Sandwell A&E will become an Urgent Care Centre.

• A dedicated spacious car park on the new site will be run by the Trust, and will allow underground access to wards and departments.  Bus routes will come onto the site.  The Trust will maintain its current ‘open visiting’ policy to support relatives in spending time with loved ones who are inpatients.

• The new hospital has many important design features.  For example, all bathrooms in ward environments will be fully wheelchair accessible.  Half of the beds in the building will be in single rooms.  The standard design will allow the Trust to alter services within the building in decades to come.  And the building makes extensive use of robots to move non-clinical equipment and services.

•   The Fifth Floor Winter Garden will be the main space within which visitors can wait, eat and drink, and obtain information.  This spacious facility, accessible from all levels, will be the heart of the new site.

With a focus on regeneration, the new hospital will reinvigorate services and infrastructure in the surrounding areas supporting the local economy and creating more opportunities for work, education, leisure and wellbeing.  Facilities for staff and visitors in the new building will be let through separate contracts not covered by the Government’s PF2 model.  The garden space around the building will accommodate developments such as the Trust’s local community gardening partnership. In addition, Midland Met will also have a habitat designed to attract one of the UK’s endangered native birds – The Black Redstart. The little bird (about the size of a robin) has been spotted in the area, and as there are worryingly only approximately 40 mating pairs left in the UK, the Midland Met will offer it a home within the grounds.

Clinical Commissioning Group Accountable Officer, Andy Williams, says: “We are delighted that the Trust has reached this pivotal stage.  Local GPs and partner organisations have always supported the Midland Met as an essential step towards our vision of more care closer to home and higher standards for complex care. This is a good news story for the local NHS.”

For all the details about the new hospital please click here

 

Thursday, 24th September 2015

Carillion has welcomed Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s decision to grant planning consent for the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital at a meeting last night (Wednesday 23 September).

In August, a Carillion joint venture, the Hospital Company, was selected as the preferred bidder by the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver the hospital which will be located on a site off Grove Lane in Smethwick. The hospital will be delivered in a Public Private Partnership under a 30-year concession contract using the UK Government’s PF2 model.

The new state-of the-art hospital, which will have around 669 beds and 13 operating theatre suites, has been designed to meet the best international and national standards to make it truly patient focussed and to support the efficient delivery of high-quality clinical services. It will have a number of innovative design features including a fully enclosed winter garden, car parking within the hospital building on the ground and first floors to create a secure environment for both patients and staff and full separation of clinical activities and journeys from the public and non-clinical services. In addition, the design and construction of the hospital will meet the highest standards of sustainability.

Carillion expects to invest some £16 million of equity in the project, which will be built by Carillion at a capital cost of £297 million. Construction is due to start early in 2016 with completion scheduled for mid-2018 with the hospital opening later in 2018.

Carillion will use this project as a further opportunity to provide training and apprenticeship opportunities as well as maximising the use of local suppliers.

Commenting, Carillion Bid Director Austin Bell said: “We are delighted to have reached this landmark milestone in the process. We look forward to working with the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust to deliver the hospital, which will provide state-of-the art healthcare for the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham for years to come.”

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Chairman, Richard Samuda, said: “This is yet another exciting step in the decade long campaign to bring 21st century hospital care to local residents and create an environment that staff can be proud to work within.  This is the last-but-one step, with the Trust now able to proceed to try and sign a contract, with our preferred supplier.  We aim to do that before January 2016.”

 

Monday 17th August 2015

Carillion has been chosen as the preferred bidder for the Midland Metropolitan Hospital Public Private Partnership project. 

The Wolverhampton-based plc said the scheme was worth more than £430 million in construction and support services revenue and it is making an equity investment of £16 million.

A Carillion Joint Venture, The Hospital Company, has been selected as the preferred bidder by the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust to deliver the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital as Public Private Partnership under a 30-year concession contract using the UK Government’s PF2 model.

The new state-of- the-art hospital, which will have around 669 beds and 13 operating theatre suites, has been designed to meet the best international and national standards to make it truly patient focussed and to support the efficient delivery of high-quality clinical services.  The new hospital will also have a number of innovative design features including a fully enclosed Winter Garden, car parking within the hospital building on the ground and first floors to create a secure environment for both patients and staff and full separation of clinical activities and journeys from the public and non-clinical services. In addition, the design and construction of the hospital will meet the highest standards of sustainability.

Carillion expects to invest some £16 million of equity in the project, which will be built by Carillion at a capital cost of £297 million.  Hard facilities management and life-cycle maintenance services will also be delivered by Carillion and these services are expected to generate approximately £140 million of revenue over the life of the concession contract.

Financial close is expected around the end of 2015 with construction starting early in 2016. Completion is scheduled for mid-2018, with the hospital opening in late 2018.

As the leading provider of apprenticeships and training in its sector, Carillion will use this project as a further opportunity to provide training and apprenticeship opportunities as well maximising the use of local suppliers.

 

Tuesday 9th September 2014

Following the submission of the OJEU notice to kick start the procurement process for the Midland Metropolitan Hospital in July 2014 and a pre-qualifying questionnaire, a shortlist of bidders has been identified.  An Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) has now been issued and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust can confirm that both Carillion and Laing O’Rourke/Interserve are progressing their interest in the tender process on the project.  The next key milestone will be the submission of draft final bids, which is scheduled for April 2015.

IPTD Volume 1

IPTD Volume 2

IPTD Volume 3

IPTD Volume 4

 

Monday 14th July 2014

On Monday 14th July 2014, Chancellor George Osborne visited our Trust to confirm Government support for  the Midland Metropolitan Hospital.  This support includes  £100 million of state funding and  approval for the Trust to seek a private sector (PF2) partner

This means that the additional funding provided by the private sector can now be secured which will lead to the commencement of building works at the Grove Lane site in Smethwick.  We expect to appoint a PF2 partner in 2015 and the first construction activity to begin in 2016.  Demolition works are currently ongoing at site.