Paulette Hamilton Labour MP for Birmingham Erdington
After hearing of the proposed move of the NHS Urgent Treatment Centre from Erdington High Street to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, Paulette has had a number of communications with the NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB, including her latest letter raising her deep concerns below:


Dear Faith,
Further to my letter dated 3rd December 2024, I am unable to meet until at least late on Monday. Therefore, I am writing to set out my deep concerns regarding the process undertaken for the relocation of the North Birmingham Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) from Erdington High Street to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield.
- Communication Breakdown
Despite having a close relationship with the ICB and engaging in regular communication, I was not informed about these concerns at any point. Instead, I learned about the emergency move from Birmingham Live on 27th November 2024 under the headline “Yobs force vital Birmingham health facility to move amid ‘risks to patient and staff safety.” This exclusion is unacceptable and undermines trust.
- Lack of Transparency
I have yet to receive any report detailing the assessment and outcome of the decision to relocate the UTC and why Good Hope Hospital was chosen as the alternative. Furthermore, I have not been provided with the report that explains the justification for this move. It appears that the Birmingham City Council’s Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as of their meeting on 4th December 2024, has not received this information either.
- Inadequate Consultation
During the Birmingham City Council’s Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 4th December 2024, you mentioned that patients were “voting with their feet” by not attending the UTC on the High Street. However, this assertion is contradicted by the lack of meaningful consultation and awareness-raising efforts regarding the initial relocation from Warren Farm to the High Street in June 2024. Witton Lodge Community Association, sharing the same building and floor as the UTC, reported an “increased footfall, year-on-year,” contradicting the reasons cited for the move.
- Contradictory Experiences
The Witton Lodge Community Association also noted that they had not experienced incidents making staff feel unsafe and only encountered two minor incidents over three years. These incidents were quickly defused by a security officer. How can these same incidents justify moving a critical health service out of the constituency? It seems disproportionate to use such events as the primary justification for relocating the UTC.
- Policing Insights
In my regular meetings that I chair with police, residents, and traders about the on-going issues on High Street, there have been no significant or acute problems raised regarding the UTC. Have the police informed you about the ongoing work and plans to tackle local issues?
- Alternative Locations and Impact
It is concerning that alternative locations within the constituency were not considered. Erdington is one of the top 10 most deprived constituencies in the country, with a population in significant need of accessible NHS services. Relocating the UTC to Good Hope Hospital in an affluent area with existing A&E services undermines the principle of care in the community. Additionally, Good Hope’s already overstretched parking facilities will exacerbate access issues for vulnerable groups, including the elderly and disabled.
- High Street Risk Assessment
Given the known issues of Erdington High Street, was a risk assessment conducted prior to the relocation to Erdington High Street? If so, why were these issues not highlighted, and how can we trust the assessment for the move to Good Hope Hospital given the parking concerns?
- Lack of Transparency and Accountability
The decision to bypass public consultation and transparency, citing “legal advice,” sets a worrying precedent for taxpayer-funded services. Using ‘minor incidents’ [Witton Lodge Community Association’s letter] to justify relocating such a vital community service undermines public trust and accountability.
The decision to strip Erdington of its UTC is deeply concerning, both in its substance and in the process by which it was made. The lack of consultation, transparency, and accountability is unacceptable. For these reasons, I will now be raising my concerns directly with the Health Minister.
Yours sincerely,
Paulette Hamilton MP