Malton Hospital could be renamed Ryedale Hospital under a huge refurbishment scheme which will make it capable of serving the entire district for the first time.

The name change was announced as health chiefs proudly unveiled their vision for the future of the hospital, which has at its core a £15 million refurbishment.

Architects and healthcare staff from the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust (SNEYT) and the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust (PCT), are behind the massive project.

Kevin Pulford, of the PCT, said the scheme - which will see a new building connected to the existing minor injuries unit - was part of the Government's plans to improve privacy and dignity for patients.

The Fitzwilliam Ward, an old-style Nightingale ward, will be relocated to the new unit and improvements made in the spaces freed up by that move.

He said there were plans to rename the facility Ryedale Hospital to reflect the exciting changes. "This is about trying to sell this as a resource for the whole of Ryedale rather than just being principally for the people of Malton and Norton," he explained.

Andrew Holt, of SNEYT, said: "It's a major development for Malton and when it's finished it will look like a new hospital."

Some older buildings detached from the main hospital will be demolished to make way for the building and a bigger car park.

They will be rehoused so that effectively all facilities are under one roof, he explained.

Bruce Miller, of the hospital's League of Friends, said it would be a real community effort to raise additional funds to upgrade the existing hospital facilities once the existing Fitzwilliam Ward had been relocated to the new facility.

It is thought at least £500,000 would be needed, raised through the local community and from other sources such as the Strategic Health Authority.

Mr Miller said: "It certainly can't be raised by one voluntary body, when really at this stage we don't even know how much we are talking about.

"But we have waited for this a long time."

Updated: 10:37 Monday, July 28, 2003