MALTON Hospital will become a true hospital for the people - that is the message from health care officials behind a massive £1.5million project.

Plans for the development include incorporating a new dental health facility in the building to replace the existing clinic, and demolishing older detached buildings on the site to put facilities under one roof.

Kevin Pulford, from the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust (PCT), said the cash used to improve Fitzwilliam Ward - an old-style Nightingale ward - would mean more privacy and dignity for patients.

Once the new building is completed, to the rear of the existing minor injuries unit, the project would move on to improving what was left.

According to site plans, that would include a new minor injuries unit with out-of-hours provision, better outpatient facilities and the potential for PCT office space on the site.

Derek Bartrop, head of patient and public involvement at the PCT, said the facility could be renamed Ryedale Hospital to reflect its changing role.

He said: "The original suggestion came from a member of the public and I suppose our response would be that that would be an appropriate thing to do, simply because the hospital does serve the whole community. "Geographically it's for the Ryedale community, and also across the age and needs spectrum."

But Mr Bartrop said any proposals to change the name would be looked at in partnership with the whole community.

"The message is that this is your hospital if you live here in the community - we want people to be involved in that."

Updated: 10:36 Thursday, July 31, 2003