Balfour Beatty, the UK-based construction and infrastructure expert, has been given the go-ahead by the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust board for its Midland Metropolitan University Hospital project.
The new hospital, part of the New Hospital Programme, is due to open on 6 October 2024. Once up and running, it will be the largest acute care hospital in the region, with approximately 700 beds for inpatients.
The New Hospital Programme is currently under review by the UK's new Labour government to evaluate its future financially.
The state-of-the-art hospital is expected to serve over half a million people with facilities for acute and emergency care as well as paediatric, maternity, and inpatient adult care.
In terms of the build, the new mega-structure has a gross internal floor area of approximately 85,924 sqm over nine floors.
The new hospital part of the New Hospital Programme, is due to open on 6 October 2024
In addition, the site will also be home to a new £18m learning campus being largely funded from Towns Fund investment, set to open in 2025.
This facility will be a game changer for the local population offering further and higher education courses as well as apprenticeship opportunities and employment within the new hospital.
Lindsay McGibbon, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s Regional Buildings business said: “This is a momentous moment for everyone at Balfour Beatty and the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.
“Achieving this milestone was only made possible thanks to years of hard work and dedication from our people, who deserve a special mention for safely and successfully delivering this long-awaited, transformative hospital which will deliver significant benefits for the local community for years to come.”
The new mega-structure has a gross internal floor area of approximately 85,924 sqm over nine floors
Richard Beeken, Chief Executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust: “This is truly a key moment for our patients, people, and population as we know that this winter, we will be delivering emergency care in an environment which exceeds expectations and delivers benefits in wellbeing both for patients and our staff.”
“Today our board carefully considered extensive information about all aspects of the programme to deliver the new hospital safely. We are assured of the clinical safety, patient, and staff experience case for opening and transferring patients,” Beeken added
“These key milestones mark the final steps in our journey towards opening the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital which is poised to become the centre of acute and emergency care at our Trust,” Beeken concluded.
