Andy Street, has welcomed news that patients across Sandwell and West Birmingham will benefit from a brand-new, state-of-the-art hospital.

The news comes after the Government agreed to provide funding for the local Trust to finish building work at Midland Metropolitan Hospital – which will see the new hospital built by 2022.

When completed, Midland Metropolitan will be the first new hospital in England’s second largest urban area since 2010, equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, 15 operating theatres, and at least 669 beds. The new hospital will be an acute centre for the care of adults and children, as well as offering maternity care and specialised surgery to approximately three quarters of a million residents.   

Construction work had begun on Midland Metropolitan Hospital, part of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, under the private finance programme. However work was halted when the firm carrying out the work, Carillion, went into liquidation earlier this year and the PF2 contract was subsequently terminated. Since then, the Trust and Government have worked closely together to reach a resolution.

The Government has thoroughly assessed their proposal and concluded that the only viable option was for the public sector to bring in its own contractors and that a one-off funding agreement would therefore be in the best interest of patients and taxpayers alike. Mayor of West Midlands Andy Street said:

“The collapse of Carillion left everybody involved in this vital project in a hugely challenging situation with no easy solutions. That we have successfully found a way forward is testament to the work of the Trust, Government and local partners.

“While it has been a challenge getting to where we are, Government has promised all the way through that we would find a solution that balances the needs of the tax payer with the needs of the people of Sandwell and western Birmingham. It is really great news that residents in this part of the region will now get the hospital they deserve by 2022.”

Health Minister, Stephen Barclay added: “Our long-term plan for the NHS will see it 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.

“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."