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Midland Metropolitan Hospital build hit by Government delay

The appointment of a new contractor to complete the stalled Midland Metropolitan Hospital build is being held up by the Government, NHS trust bosses say.

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Midland Metropolitan Hospital

NHS bosses in Sandwell have revealed they are still waiting for the Government to approve Balfour Beatty to finish the £475 million super hospital.

Trust chief executive Toby Lewis said he remained hopeful approval would be given by the end of the summer to finally allow work to re-start on the hospital, which is due to be completed three years later than planned in 2022.

Balfour has been carrying out early works on the Midland Met to get the site ready for when fresh work can begin. The firm was the only bidder for the project.

Health chiefs are now anxiously waiting on the Government to sign off on the deal before the summer recess, in the hope of staving off any further delays.

The Midland Met is around two-thirds built at Grove Lane, in Smethwick, and no new work has been done since the collapse original builder Carillion in January 2018.

There was a further headache in April when a crane partially collapsed at the hospital.

Mr Lewis said: “We welcome the suggestion that NHS Improvement will finish their scrutiny in coming days and note that the Department of Health and Social Care, who received the case in late May, are making good progress with it.

“It remains possible for the matter to be considered prior to the Parliamentary recess at the end of July as part of the planned Governmental commitment to infrastructure.

“The trust continues to work with all partners and is delighted that the submitted bid is consistent with the business case approved by the Treasury in December 2018.

"Our early works contract is progressing and its scope has been extended to accommodate issues like the crane incident.”