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.