MALTON Hospital faces a bright and secure future, say health chiefs, who have drawn up a strategic vision for the community hospital.

The assurance was given by Adrian Lovett, head of planning for the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust (PCT) when he told its board: "There is an unequivocal commitment by the trust to develop the hospital."

Mr Lovett added: "The trust has a real opportunity to show what its community hospitals can achieve. We do not want to close them down," he added.

The vision for both the Malton and Whitby hospitals is that they should become local community organisations, focussed on health improvement, clinician-led, and actively accountable to local people.

The Malton Hospital of the future could be dealing with out-patients, those with minor injuries, walking patients, undertaking diagnositic services and day surgery, in-patient treatment and aftercare, maternity services, health and social day care, rehabilitation and intermediate care, and palliative care.

"There is a lot of work to be done," said Mr Lovett.

He said the PCT had a vision for the hospital. "We want it to become a flourishing community health resource with an effective network of local services and not just within the hospital building itself."

The aim, said Mr Lovett is for the hospital to focus on what it does best and to develop it, and to be readily accessible and "highly responsive" to the needs of Ryedale people.

"We are fortunate in having purpose-built hospitals and well-trained staff. We want to develop their skills."

He said the NHS in the area faced a problem of a rising elderly population, which would increase demand on its services in the future. But he believed that treatment, for which some people were currently having to go to Scarborough or Middlesbrough hospitals to receive, could be done at Malton Hospital or even in their own homes.

Mr Lovett said the objective was to keep people out of acute hospitals where possible.

The PCT unanimously agreed that the vision for Malton Hospital should be supported, and that management groups for community health and hospital services for Malton and Ryedale should be set up, which will also look to improve efficiency by modernising existing facilities.

Other organisations, particularly the hospital's League of Friends charity, will be involved.

The ambitious new vision follows a meeting held in Malton earlier this year involving a wide range of health care organisations.

Mr Lovett said the meeting believed that Malton Hospital was doing "a very worthwhile job", bridging family doctor and general hospital care. There was also a strong tradition of local support, which was proved by the flourishing League of Friends.

He added: "There was a degree of wariness that, despite the PCT's stated aims, historically there had been too many attempts to undermine and cut services, or even close the community hospitals. Although people were glad to hear the PCT's intentions, they would prefer to be convinced by its actions."

There was also a feeling that, for limited additional spending, some very worthwhile improvements could be made.

He said some staff feared for the future following the unplanned suspension of general anaesthetic surgery at Malton Hospital.

People wanted to see changes driven by clear policies for high quality services, not expedient short-term cost savings.

Bob Clement, chairman of the Pickering Community Investment Initiative and a board member, said he welcomed the proposals for Malton Hospital. The hospital, he said, was valuable to the Ryedale community and there was potential to increase its use.

"The capacity is there," he added. "Let's set up the management groups - let's get cracking!"

Updated: 09:15 Wednesday, October 02, 2002