Coronavirus crisis not expected to further delay Midland Metropolitan super hospital
The construction of a Black Country super hospital is not expected to be further delayed by the coronavirus crisis, an NHS boss has said.
The Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is due to open in summer 2022, four years later than originally planned, after the collapse of original contractor Carillion.
Work resumed at the start of the year, just as the coronavirus outbreak was beginning, after Balfour Beatty was brought on board to complete the job. It will now cost more than £1 billion to build and run.
Building work is continuing on site at Grove Lane, Smethwick, after measures were put in place to ensure social distancing.
While the outlook for the next few months remains uncertain, Toby Lewis, chief executive of the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which will run Midland Met, says the hospital remains on track for a 2022 opening.
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The Midland Met will become one of the leading healthcare facilities in the region and replace Sandwell General as the borough's main hospital.
Mr Lewis said: "Our first focus is to make sure people on site are well. Balfour has taken a very sensible approach to that. We're confident they are maintaining social distancing.
"There are about 175 people currently working on aspects of Midland Met. By Christmas the intention is 700 to 900. We are working with the plan to keep going.
"At the moment we expect to open in 2022 and if that changes we will let people know."
Mr Lewis stressed people's livelihoods were dependent on construction continuing and referred pointedly to the fact the new hospital should have been up and running by now and leading the region's fight against Covid-19.
He said: "It's really important in the real economy money starts to flow. Jobs depend on it, families on it. It's really important the supply chain around Midland Met is supported.
"We're dealing with a virus, an infection. There will be other viruses and infections. It just reminds us why Midland Met, which was meant to open in 2018 after all, is so important and will make a difference to our wellbeing."
