Delayed super hospital set to open in October

The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, in Smethwick, was slated to open in spring of 2023, already some years behind schedule.

Sandwell's new super hospital will open in October, it has been announced.

The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, in Smethwick, was slated to open in spring of 2023, already some years behind schedule.

But bosses have now said it will open its doors to patients on 6 October and Sandwell Hospital's emergency department will shut on the same date. Patients at City Hospital in Birmingham will start to use the new hospital from November with City's emergency department closing then.

The new hospital will have more than 700 beds, 11 operating theatres, an emergency unit and maternity services.

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust will continue to provide out-patient clinics, day-surgery and routine diagnostics at Sandwell and City Hospital sites.

Work on the site was beset by difficulties, with the collapse of construction firm Carillion in 2018 and then the Covid pandemic.

The total cost of the hospital is expected to be in excess of £988m, £300m more than originally planned.