End of an era for City Hospital

The historic site, which opened as an infirmary in 1897 as an extension to the workhouse, has been a hospital on Dudley Road, ever since.

The accident and emergency department (A&E) closed at 5am on 10 November, whilst the big move began at 7am, with 320 inpatients transferred to the Midland Met, which is run by Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

It’s the third and final move to the new Smethwick site, which focuses on the delivery of care to seriously ill patients.

Sir David Nicholson, Chairman for the Trust, said: “Today we have completed our final patient moves from City Hospital and the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is now a fully operational acute hospital.

“In our three moves, we have safely transferred over 300 patients, from three-hour old babies to a 97-year-old. All three moves have been very successful and completed ahead of schedule each time. That is testament to the meticulous planning that has gone into it and we are incredibly proud of all staff involved.

“This achievement is a significant milestone not only for the organisation, but also for the communities we serve, and it is all thanks to the dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment from our staff that we have made Midland Met a reality.

Richard Beeken, Chief Executive added: “This was a monumental task – 10 years in the making.

“But over the last six weeks, we have seen incredible collaboration of countless individuals from across all departments, from hospital clinicians to our community teams, admin teams, IT, estates and facilities, cleaning, communications, catering – the list is endless.

“Their professionalism, resilience, and passion for delivering the very best patient care through our new facilities and new care models, has been second to none.” 

The last inpatient to leave the 130-year-old hospital site was Pankaj Kumar, who is also an A&E doctor at the Trust and is currently being treated for pneumonia.

Staff lined the corridor and clapped as he was taken to the ambulance – and as he arrived into the ward at the Midland Met he was again met with applause.

He said: “It was really a heartfelt moment when I was moved as the last patient. Everyone was standing there, clapping. It was really touching, and then when I got to the Midland Met they were there waiting for me to do the same again.”

Dr Kumar, who has worked at the Trust for 18 years, added: “It was symbolic and emotional.”

In October, Sandwell Hospital A&E and inpatient wards were closed and moved to the Midland Met. The Maternity Department transferred over on Wednesday 6 November.

Residents normally using A&E at City Hospital should now go to the Midland Met with life threatening conditions which need emergency care. For minor illnesses and conditions, patients are urged to use the Summerfield Urgent Treatment Centre in nearby Heath Street, and open between 8am-8pm. Appointments can be booked via NHS 111.

The site, which will now be known as City Health Campus, will continue to operate outpatient appointments and short stay surgery at the Birmingham Treatment Centre, whilst the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre will deliver inpatient, outpatient and surgical services. The Sheldon Block building will house rehabilitation, therapy services and community medicine.

Sandwell Health Campus, the former Sandwell Hospital site, also offers outpatient appointments, antenatal care, day case surgery, an Urgent Treatment Centre, open between 7am and 1am and community services.

For more information, visit swbh.nhs.uk/our-new-hospital