Sandwell super hospital: Health boss confident of brighter future for services
A health boss has hit back at criticism of Sandwell's new multi-million pound super hospital and said he is confident it will be ready to deliver improved care services when it opens in two years time.
A damning report earlier this year claimed there would need to be more investment into social care for when the £350 million Midland Metropolitan Hospital launches in 2018, as the new unit will seek to place a greater focus on urgent care.
But Andy Williams, a senior member of the Sandwell Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is responsible for planning and commissioning health services, insisted chiefs have plans in place for the future.
John Lister, a former consultant with 30 years' experience in the NHS, delivered his review of the new hospital earlier this year.
As well as his concerns over social care, he also criticised the scale and location of the site.
The Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust will run the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, which is under construction in Grove Lane, Smethwick.
Mr Williams, the CCG's accountable director, said: "They have been investing for a long period of time and the trust itself is a major provider of many of the services.
"It (the report) was what it was.
"Partners have been working on this for a long time.
"The report wasn't tested on us and we disagree with some of its conclusions.
"I think we are on course and we are ready.
"We have got clear services and clear processes. There are contingencies if we have not got it quite right or we have to change our plans."
Sandwell Hospital and City Hospital, the other two units run by the trust, will be downscaled when the new hospital opens.
Many outpatients services are expected to be run from those hospitals to allow the new site to focus more on A&E patients and urgent care.
There will also be a larger emphasis on delivering care at home as well as smaller care centres in the area.
And Mr Williams said: "It is a long-standing plan that goes back over 10 years in which all different partners from different health organisations have come together to plan health and care in Sandwell and West Birmingham.
"We have delivered the hospital on the calculation of that plan and it will be one of the final pieces of the puzzle."
Mr Williams' views echo those of trust chief executive Toby Lewis, who said he was very confident in the plans for the facility.
