BATTLE lines are being drawn to save a former hospital for the community with the local authority launching a dramatic bid to possibly buy the building.

Hambleton District Council is putting up £15,000 so a commercial case can be put forward to potentially purchase the Lambert Hospital in Thirsk which closed two years ago.

But as the news emerged it was revealed that NHS Property Services have put a covenant on the sale – preventing its use as a healthcare facility.

The property was put up for sale last month - after it was declared surplus to requirements by the local clinical commissioning group - amid protests that it was a dereliction of duty by the health service.

Hambleton has launched an eleventh hour bid to save it with leader Mark Robson saying: “Closure has raised concerns that the potential of the building to meet the social and health needs of the local community will be lost.

“We will look at the buildings possible social, health and community uses, as well as its potential for workspace. Everything will be considered before we decide if there is a business case for the council to buy it.”

But there is concern time could be running out, with an initial deadline of December 18 - and it has now been revealed that a covenant will prevent a purchaser using it for healthcare purposes.

A spokesman for NHS Property Services said: “A covenant protects the benefits and efficiencies that the local NHS has delivered, as moving local health services back into the building risks creating costly empty space somewhere else.

“It also gives us the opportunity to work strategically with our local NHS partners and the new owner of the building if a healthcare need arises for it in future. In the meantime, we are happy to engage with interested parties on all options for the site.”

But Dr Fiona Bellas of the Lambert Medical Centre said: “As a practice we are extremely disappointed and disillusioned to find a building once donated for health care use in Thirsk is now having a covenant placed upon it preventing its use as a healthcare facility.

"After both practices were deemed to have inadequate facilities and space and with a further 500 homes being built in Thirsk we have had prolonged meetings and negotiations. We continue to explore the possibility of providing a hub for general practice and community services at this site in an aim to future proof general practice in Thirsk.

"It therefore seems unbelievable such an action would be deemed appropriate by NHS property services.”