Midland Metropolitan Hospital work 'may re-start before end of the year'
Health bosses remain hopeful work on a partially-built hospital could re-start before the end of the year.
Sandwell's NHS boss Toby Lewis said a date of December for work to get going again on the £475m Midland Metropolitan Hospital could still be possible if the green light is given from the Government in the next six weeks.
If that is the case, he said it would "probably" secure an opening date before mid-summer 2022, three years later than originally planned.
Trust bosses have been left frustrated by delays on getting approval from the Government to allow Balfour Beatty to re-start the job that was being done by Carillion before its collapse, while there are now fears a possible general election could throw another spanner in the works at the worst possible time.
Further delays could derail the trust's plan to have the Midland Met open in time for the Commonwealth Games in three years' time.
Mr Lewis, chief executive of the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, previously told the Express & Star approval was "certainly" needed by the end of August but it now hopeful it will come at long last over the next six weeks.
In his latest report to board members, he said: "The board approved the final business case to complete the Midland Met at its June meeting in expectation of external approval by the end of August 2019, in line with the nationally approved outline business case agreed at the start of 2019.
"While that timetable has not been achieved, it remains possible to achieve re-start on site at the outset of December. This would, probably, secure 2022 opening before mid-summer.
"That timetable is achievable if a deal is reached in October, given adjustments to the extant early works contract that we have made conscious of the small delay."
Mr Lewis revealed some changes had been made to the trust's final business case following assessment by ministers, despite an outline bid having previously been signed off by the Government.
He continued: "The scrutiny is welcome as the sums involved are substantial, but the case maintains the cost and commercial arrangements approved previously."
