MALVERN'S long-awaited new hospital is a step closer to reality following a decision to advertise for a development partner in the European Union.

Using a new European Union process, the advert will be placed in EU journals and interested developers will be asked to come up with imaginative and affordable proposals in open discussions with the Primary Care Trust.

While advertising for partners on a European-wide scale is normal on projects of this size, the new open process will mean the best and most creative ideas can be pooled. The developer chosen will fund the project and own the building, with the PCT paying charges to use it for the next 25 years.

PCT development manager Alec Kendal said the process would get Malvern a state-of-the-art hospital by resolving the problem that has stalled the project so far -- the lack of capital to build one.

The advertisement is expected to be placed in EU journals in November. Paul Bates, acting Primary Care Trust chief executive, is keen to maintain the momentum built up in recent months.

"We're looking for ways in which the dialogue with bidders can be accelerated along with the actual construction process," he said.

He emphasised that while there could be no guarantees, the Malvern Hospital Project should now be seen very much as a work-in-progress.

Pat Merrick, Malvern Community Hospital League of Friends chairman and new hospital project board member, said she was more confident than she had been for a long time that Malvern was finally going to get the new hospital it so badly needed.

"It's a slightly different way of doing things but I've a lot of faith in the new team and the League of Friends will support 100 per cent any initiative that gets us the new hospital," said Mrs Merrick.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust has applied for a share of the £150 million of Government money earmarked for the renewal of the country's community hospitals. Regardless of the success or otherwise of this bid, there will be no delay in the building of the new hospital, as developers are being asked to supply the capital funding themselves.

A successful application for Government funds, however, would reduce the charges the PCT has to pay for the new hospital over the next 25 years.