Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH) is a new build facility in Sandwell which amalgamates Acute and Emergency care services to North West Midlands replacing a number of existing decentralised facilities across the Trust’s estate.

With approximately 700 beds, the Acute Hospital comprises a purpose-built A&E (Emergency Department) with imaging and diagnostic services; a dedicated children’s A&E (Emergency Department) and assessment unit; separate adult and children’s wards with 50 per cent of beds being within single en-suite rooms; 13 operating theatres for both emergency, major planned surgery and maternity; a midwife-led birthing unit next to a delivery suite, two maternity wards and antenatal services; a neonatal unit; same day emergency care for adults; Sickle cell and thalassaemia centre amongst others providing capacity for 82,000 inpatients and nearly 120,000 outpatients.

Located on a brownfield site, the Trust set ambitious requirements for a sustainable, low energy, fully mechanically ventilated hospital to provide cutting edge health care services that would respond to climate change and future carbon commitments. 

In addition, the Trust had a vision for MMUH to be the most operationally resilient acute facility in the UK and developed resilience as a core theme of their requirements.

Hulley & Kirkwood, appointed by Balfour Beatty Group, were tasked with undertaking a complete redesign from 1st principles following some documented issues with the original design in the wake of administration of the original contractor.

The challenge of the commission was, using our sector leading expertise, to quickly digest the Trust’s Construction Requirements and develop a design that met the contractual provision whilst working within the constraint of what was a partially built envelope and ensuring compliance with HTM requirements.  

Having worked with the Trust previously as Technical Advisers on the project, Hulley & Kirkwood had already fostered a good working relationship with the key stakeholders within the Trust and their associated representatives which enabled open dialogue and proactive discussions to fast track mutually agreeable design solutions. 

The scenario was almost truly unique given the need for a wholesale redesign but our extensive experience, ability to evidence precedence and proactive approach was essential to achieving compliance and programme, working with the Trust so as not to dilute their specific requirements, resilience and energy conservation being chief amongst them.

Following the design phase, Hulley & Kirkwood were retained to undertake site duties and inspections through our Birmingham office.

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