Bed space review starts at £350m Midland super hospital
A review of bed capacity at a new £350 million 'super hospital' - which could result in an extra floor having to be fitted - has got under way.
Health chiefs are waiting to discover if more ward space will be needed at the Midland Metropolitan Hospital, which is under construction in Smethwick.
In January, it was revealed that a review would have to be carried out due to uncertainty over whether it would have enough beds.
If it is found more space is needed, work could have to start on a new floor which would not be ready until at least 2020.
Another option would be to use empty wards at Sandwell General, which is due to be scaled down when the new hospital opens.
The chief executive of the trust that will run the hospital, Toby Lewis, has admitted having to make more space available would be far from ideal.
As it stands, the adult wards would be on the sixth, seventh and eighth floors. While a ninth and tenth floor will be built, they were only meant to be for 'expansion and engineering space' to be used in future years.
Health chiefs have already been delivered a blow after the opening of the hospital was put back six months to spring 2019.
Mr Lewis, chief executive of the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said: "The planned independent review of bed capacity within the Midland Metropolitan Hospital is under way and forms an important part of a wider review of the sustainability of the healthcare system for Sandwell and West Birmingham.
“The review aims to establish a framework for collaborative working that will allow local health and social care organisations to choose new care models and select the best approach for future commissioning and provision.
"The aim for all organisations involved is to ensure that high quality local healthcare services remain sustainable for the local population that we serve.”
The new hospital is expected to have 670 beds and 15 operation theatres.
Its A&E will become the main emergency centre for the area, with Sandwell General's A&E to become an urgent care centre.
The Midland Met is being built on a 16-acre site by Wolverhampton-based construction giant Carillion at Grove Lane.
