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Important Announcement: Midland Met will open on 6 October

August 21, 2024

Dear colleagues,

It is with great pleasure that I write to you today to confirm that our brand-new hospital, the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH) in Smethwick, will open its doors on 6 October 2024.

As I mentioned in my Friday message last week, this has been a big week for Midland Met. On Monday, the building was officially handed over from Balfour Beatty, which allows us full access to the site to get ready for the first patient arriving.

Today, the Board received extensive information about all aspects of the programme to safely open our new hospital. We were assured of the clinical safety, patient, and staff experience case for opening and transferring patients. I felt incredibly proud listening to the different presentations today – for most of us, opening a new hospital is a once in a career opportunity, and it is a chance to leave something behind that will make a real difference to the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham for generations to come. To be part of this is really special, and something that we should all be proud of.

This has been a long journey, and many people have worked incredibly hard to get us to this point and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your engagement in the process so far. Only colleagues in this Trust know just how hard it has been to maintain existing service delivery whilst planning to transform care to move into MMUH. We are now almost there.

True to the nature of large construction projects, the handover from Balfour was subject to a delay, which means we have a busy 46 days ahead of us. And yes – you read that right, in 46 days – the first patient will arrive through the doors at Midland Met.

The headlines for our move plan are as follows:

  • MMUH opening its doors to patients – 6th October
  • Patients at Sandwell Hospital will relocate to MMUH and Sandwell ED will close – 6th October
  • Maternity and Neonatal Services relocate to MMUH – 6th November
  • Patients at City Hospital will relocate to MMUH and City ED will close -10th November

We have lots to do during this phase to ensure that our activation activities are completed, and we are operationally ready to move into Midland Met. This includes:

    • Soft FM service and Pharmacy Hub established.
    • Automated Guided Vehicle (AGVs) fully operational
    • End to end Pharmacy equipment in place and commissioned
    • IT equipment in place and infrastructure final checks complete
    • Stocking the building of equipment, furniture, and supplies
    • Completing on site clinical scenario testing
    • CQC registration
    • Final operational readiness conditions are met inclusive of induction
    • Reduce planned activity and Patient Census completed.

It is also crucial, that if you will be working in Midland Met, you undertake your online induction as soon as possible. So far, we are yet to pass 1,000 people having completed it – please ensure that you make this a priority. More information is available here.

Your engagement and commitment to the Midland Met programme so far has been outstanding, this takes teamwork, and I have seen it in abundance over the last few months. The next 46 days are going to be challenging, but together, I know we will ‘Be Set for Midland Met.’

To celebrate 46 days until we open the doors, take a look at this 46 second video about Midland Met.

Kind regards,

Richard