PATIENTS will not be given "a blank canvas" for their input into the design of the Malvern Community Hospital, health chiefs have revealed.

Project director Brian Hanford has promised patients and the public that they can help shape the £19.3 million hospital and make it one to be proud of.

However, he has told them they cannot be completely free in their ideas as there are practical constraints on design.

The display is at Priory Lodge, Malvern Hills District Council, Avenue Road, Malvern, on Wednesday, April 23, between 2pm and 8pm.

Following the period of public engagement, which finishes on Friday, May 9, a planning application will be submitted in June and, if approved, work to build the hospital will begin in February 2009.

The new building is expected to open for patients in September 2010.

Mr Hanford of Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, which manages health services including community hospitals, said: "The images we have released are merely suggestions as to how the building could look.

"Obviously, the requirement to deliver a fully functioning and efficient hospital means that we cannot offer a completely blank canvas to work with in terms of how the hospital should look.

"However, we are urging the public to take full advantage of this period of public engagement in order to get their views across."

The fact-finding exercise will mean residents' thoughts, ideas and opinions will feed into the design of the 24-bed hospital at Seaford Court.

Paul Bates, chief executive of Worcestershire PCT, has raised the possibility that schoolchildren may influence the design as part of a competition although no further details of this have yet been released to your Worcester News.

People are being asked to comment on the general design of the building, its location, views for inside the hospital, how the building should feel internally, the kind of grounds and gardens to be created and how the hospital can be made environmentally friendly.

There are further consultations on Thursday, April 24, at Castlemorton Parish Hall, Church Road, Castlemorton; on Wednesday, April 30, at Malvern Rugby Club, New Club House, Spring Lane, Malvern Link; and on Thursday, May 1, at The Memorial Hall, Old Street, Upton-upon-Severn.

People can express their views during the period of public engagement by writing to Freepost LTA Communications, by visiting www.worcspct.nhs.uk or by completing a form on the back of the public engagement document, copies of which are available at GP surgeries and libraries.