New Black Country hospital that's 'more than a hospital' invites guests in for Christmas party

And the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick may have only been open a few short months but it is already becoming part of the community.

That was proved on Christmas Day when staff organised a gathering of 20 people from the community who might otherwise have spent the day alone. They enjoyed a meal, singing, party games, presents and crackers.

Jayne Salter-Scott, the patient and public involvement manager at the hospital, helped organise the event with the help of staff and volunteers from four area organisations who recruited the participants: Sandwell Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO); New Beginnings Community;  St Albans Community Centre and The Dorothy Parkes Centre.

The invited guests included Ricky Chapple from Smethwick, who is a singer and entertainer himself and particularly enjoyed that part of the day.

He said: "My support worker asked me if I would like to be involved and I said 'why not?' so they put my name forward and I ended up having a wonderful day with the other guests and staff. I would have been on my own otherwise and probably wouldn't have done anything so to come here and enjoy the festivities was great."

Jayne said: "This hospital has been a long time coming and the hashtag we go by is 'more than a hospital' because although it is here to deal with medical needs it serves the community, which is what I try to do in my job as there are so many people who need help and support.

"We were approached by SCVO to get this project together and have received wonderful support towards it by them and the other organisations involved, all who serve the community outside the hospital and have brought people together this Christmas."