A PROPOSED deal was announced this week which should secure the future of King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst.

A hospital spokesman announced on Tuesday that a 50-year proposed partnership deal with major independent healthcare provider HCA International should be finalised next month.

The proposed deal means that business at the hospital should be able to continue as usual, with all staff contracts being transferred to HCA International, and the day-to- day management of the hospital would bse separated from the King Edward VII Hospital charitable trust.

The hospital spokesman added that the cancer and cardiac facilities, which are consdiered to be national centres of excellence, will benefit from substantial new investments as a result of the deal.

Hospital chief executive Lin Way said she is delighted with the news.

"This proposed partnership will finally lift the cloud of financial instability which has hung over the hospital for so long.

"I believe all our dedicated staff, patients, friends, and volunteers have good reason to be pleased with this news," Mrs Way added.

Under the terms of the proposed partnership, the hospital's charitable trust will have an advisory role and will remain active locally by organising fundraising events and initiatives.

Chairman of the hospital's council (effectively the hospital's trustees), Martin Long, said he "strongly supported the proposed partnership and what it means for the hospital".

HCA International is a subsidiary of independent healthcare provider HCA of Nashville, USA. It owns six of the largest private hospitals in the UK and a health laboratory in London.