Hi, call me cynical if you like, but having worked in the Ambulance Service during the 80's & 90's, before I ended up leaving, (to care for dying family members), I saw a lot of Corporate Profiteering sneaking in based upon B'ham's Hospitals. Several, including the QE, were allowed to deteriorate in order to give more weight to the argument for replacement. However, when closure and 'replacement' happened, it wasn't what had been promised, nor people expected. Take the case of the Rubery Hill Hospitals site. The Joseph Sheldon, John Connolly and Hollymoor Hospitals. Each there for a reason, each doing a wonderful job for the more vulnerable in our society. But, as is said in the Original posting, they stood in acres of green fields, and there were several 'businessmen' keen to get their paws on that. Today, we have the 'Great Park' ... where are all those psychiatric patients?( Not in the 18 bed 'new' block at the QE),The Elderly or special needs children? Did those 'businessmen' care?
The QE, had a fortune spent on the Neuroscience block, yet did Kidney Dialysis in a portacabin. The Wards were kept clean & tidy, yet paint flaked off the walls in the main corridor. It was being deliberately manouvered into allowing the creation of the 'super hospital'. There were more, The old Showell Green Lane Womens, moved to the Maternity Unit, The Acci - now Student Accommodation, the Childrens - now the old General, The EYE, Skin, Nerve, even the Summerfield at Dudley Rd, sold off, their work done elsewhere on a much reduced scale, whilst vast profits were made by a few, non-NHS organizations.
The BEST thing I found about the QE was the Staff canteen accessed by the tunnel - it had by far the best Hospital Canteen food in terms of Quality & quantity, esp if I was between calls, (No queueing! - thanks ladies). And if I couldn't make the Canteen, the (Clock?) cafe by the entrance, absolutely HUGE dripping (lardy) cakes for 50p.
Yes it was a bit 'industrial' in its appearance, but it did some great work when I was there.