A PRIVATE hospital in Guildford, used by patients in Haslemere and the surrounding area, is to be sold.

Trustees of the 72-bed Mount Alvernia Hospital, a specialist cancer centre, made the announcement this week.

The trustees are hoping to sell the hospital, which first opened its doors in 1935, as a going concern, thereby safeguarding the jobs of 437 nurses, therapists and other staff. The hospital was established by the Roman Catholic Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood. The chairman of the trustees Sister Ann Kiely said in a statement that it had been a "difficult decision" to sell the hospital set in almost two acres of land in Harvey Road.

"As Franciscan Missionaries, our primary obligation is to the welfare and development of our mission worldwide. As trustees we are finding it increasingly difficult to provide the time and expertise needed to sustain the high standard at Mount Alvernia, while meeting our worldwide obligations.

"Our aim therefore, will be to find a buyer who will be dedicated to the continuing ethos and upholding the Christian values which are so fundamental to the high quality care given at Mount Alvernia," said Sister Ann Kiely.