Huge A&E changes in hospital shake up as top nurse shares exactly what to do

Patients are being reminded two A&E departments will close to make way for a new “super hospital”. The Midland Metropolitan Hospital will open on Grove Lane in Smethwick on October 6.

The new acute general hospital, which has been constructed on a 16-acre site, will house more than 700 beds and 11 operating theatres. It will also have a brand new emergency unit and host maternity services.

It means patients who would normally attend A&E at Sandwell or City hospitals will go to the new site. The two departments will be combined into the new building, which promises an “ultra modern setting”.

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Sandwell Hospital's A&E department will close on October 6, the same day the new hospital opens, while City Hospital A&E will close its doors on November 10. Michael Brennan, one of the matrons overseeing the new site, said it was important people were aware of the new dates.

“The emergency department at Midland Met is for life-threatening conditions,” he said. “These can be signs of a heart attack like chest pain, a stroke, severe difficulty in breathing or the sudden onset of confusion.”

Other reasons for attending might include choking, blood loss, a seizure or rapid swelling, he added. People with severe injuries following a serious injury or assault will also be admitted to A&E.

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The hospital project has been beset with delays and was first slated to open in 2018. There have also been increased costs, with the final bill expected to be in excess of £988 million - £300 million more than originally planned.

Work on the site first came to a halt with the collapse of construction giant Carillion. It also suffered setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It had been slated for a Spring 2023 opening but it was pushed back even further until this autumn. Trust chiefs believe the new hospital will provide a world class setting to transform healthcare in the area.

They also believe it will "revitalise the region" through increasing skills, employment and wages while attracting new investment. The hospital will also be home to a new £18 million learning campus which is set to open in 2025.

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