The Government is in talks with West Midlands Mayor Andy Street about getting the stalled construction of the Midland Metropolitan Hospital moving again.

Work on the £350 million hospital in the Black Country, which will also serve residents from Birmingham, has been on hold since the collapse of construction giant Carillion in January.

Carillion was building the 669-bed hospital on behalf of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust.

It was due to open in 2019 in Smethwick, and will replace many services currently provided by City Hospital in Birmingham and Sandwell Hospital.

But there is now concern about whether the hospital will open on time.

The Midland Metropolitan Hospital will take in services from City and Sandwell hospitals.
The Midland Metropolitan Hospital will take in services from City and Sandwell hospitals.

Prime Minister Theresa May revealed in the House of Commons that Cabinet Minister David Liddington was working with mayor Andy Street to try to find a solution.

She said: "The Department for Health and Social Care is working actively on it but also the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (David Liddington) is doing so.

"And he has also been in discussions with the Mayor of the West Midland, Andy Street, who has also been in discussions with the Trust

"We recognise the level of concern that is being raised on this issue and we are working to resolve it."

She was answering a question from Black Country MP John Spellar (Lab Warley), who said: "Three months ago, following the Carillion collapse, building work stopped on the two thirds-finished Midlands Metropolitan Hospital in Smethwick."

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

Mr Spellar pointed out that he had previously raised the issue with the Prime Minister in February.

He said: "I have to ask the Prime Minister to get a grip of her ministers and officials and get a deal, and get this hospital built."

Some MPs say that the longer construction is delayed, the harder it will be to retain the skilled workforce required to finish the building.