Government working 'as quickly as possible' to get working going on Midland Met Hospital
Health ministers say they are working "as quickly as possible" to ensure work can re-start on a partially-built hospital - but insisted the project must provide value for money.
The boss of Sandwell's NHS trust, which will run the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital, said earlier this month he was "troubled" by how long it was taking the Government to give their approval for Balfour Beatty to continue with the project which stalled following the collapse of original contractor Carillion.
Toby Lewis said approval was "certainly" needed by the end of August amid fears a lack of confirmation could add yet more delays the project, which is already set to be completed three years late.
The Department of Health told the Express & Star it wanted to see work re-start on the Midland Met as soon as possible.
It said "good progress" had been made but gave no indication of whether it was close to signing off on the trust's business case.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We continue to support the Sandwell and West Birmingham Trust to get the new Midland Metropolitan Hospital built as quickly as possible, while making every penny of taxpayers' money count.”
No fresh work has been done on the hospital since the collapse of original builder Carillion in January 2018. Balfour Beatty, which is carrying out early works, is now waiting in the wings to complete the job. The so-called super hospital is due to open in 2022.
Mr Lewis said this month he was particularly frustrated given the £358 million business case approved by the Treasury last December was consistent with the bid sent off for approval.
He said: "Local people have been waiting a long time for a new hospital and we're all determined to get Midland Met open before the Commonwealth Games.
"The approval we need ideally in July but certainly by the end of August. We're running behind with those approvals."
