New Smethwick super hospital takes a step forward
A new £353million super hospital in Smethwick has reached a key milestone after the business plan was lodged with the the Department of Health and HM Treasury.
Once it receives the green light, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust work can submit a planning application.
The new hospital - named Midland Metropolitan Hospital - will be built on Grove Lane and is set to open in late 2018.
Chief Executive, Toby Lewis, said: "We are delighted to reach this important milestone in the long campaign to create a single specialist emergency hospital for half a million people locally.
"The business case is being issued to Whitehall for approval by the end of June .
"Our board's decision to proceed reflects the strength of our case to improve outcomes for patients, and the distinctive success of our staff in the last year in delivering the first year of plans for improvement.
"We look forward to hearing back from Government in seven weeks' time - allowing the final planning application to be submitted to the local authority."
