Construction deal signed for stalled Midland Metropolitan Hospital
The deal to finish the Midland Metropolitan has been signed securing the future of the new hospital which has been hit by delays since the collapse of construction giant Carillion in 2018.
The construction deal follows the Government’s approval in October £350m of public funding to complete the project.
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 of Balfour Beatty UK Construction Services which won the bid.
Samuda said: “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.”
Lewis 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.”
Banks 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.”
