Expert brands new Sandwell super hospital a 'long-term liability'

John Lister, a former consultant with more than 30 years experience in the NHS, also said the Midland Metropolitan Hospital was the wrong size, being built in the wrong place and would mean the loss of hundreds of jobs to help pay for it.

The extraordinary assessment has been delivered ahead of a damning report into the new hospital and will come as a blow to health bosses who have championed the site as the future of healthcare in Sandwell providing vastly improved services.

Work on the hospital, which will feature 670 beds and 15 operating theatres, is already under way in Grove Lane, Smethwick, but the planning of the new unit, which has been dubbed a super hospital, has been called into question following an independent review.

Ahead of the publication of his report, Mr Lister told the Express & Star the new hospital was a 'gamble'.

He said: "I am not convinced the new hospital is the right size or is in the right place. They are spending a lot of money on the hospital but it seems to be too small and not in the right place for people to get round easily. Some of the plans are still very questionable.

"The original plan was to eliminate the two other hospitals (Sandwell and City) but the actual plan involves using beds at the other hospitals.

"What we are not saying is we don't need a new hospital in Sandwell and West Birmingham but we do question is this the best way to plan it?"

Mr Lister also claims the hospital, which is being built by Wolverhampton-based construction giant Carillion and is due to open in 2018 - has cost too much and that repayments - estimated to be around £25m a year - could lead to a drain on other health services in the area. It is also claimed hundreds of jobs would have to be cut to help pay for the new hospital. The trust announced just last week that 450 posts were to be axed.

He said going down the route of borrowing money from the Government rather getting backing from a private company would have been more cost-effective.

Mr Lister, who has compiled the dossier in co-operation with the Birmingham TUC, concluded: "I would say it is a long-term liability. It's a bit of a gamble. When the plans were originally drawn up there may have been an expectation that healthcare funding was increasing. It's now clear from this Government there is no increase in real-terms NHS funding."

A hospital spokesman said: "The Trust has not seen the report, nor been asked for any information or underpinning analysis in support of John Lister's work.

"The case for change to improve care through the creation of a single specialist acute centre has been subject to external review by clinicians in commissioning, and experts regionally and nationally.

"The site of the Midland Metropolitan reflects the outcome of public consultation."