The proposal involves the sale of the public hospital to the Government for $77 million. The Government would in turn sell Clare Holland House to the Catholic health care provider for $9 million in what has proven to be the most controversial aspect of the deal.

Little Company of Mary issued to The Canberra Times yesterday an artist's impression of the new hospital -which would be called Calvary Private - it plans to build if the sale goes through, subject to additional planning and approvals.

The new facilities would be built in three stages over several years.

When complete, they could include new operating theatres, diagnosis and cancer care services. The company said the private services would complement existing and planned services at the public hospital in Bruce to create a major health precinct which would rival Canberra Hospital. The first stage, a day surgery centre, would be completed by 2012.

Stage two - comprising 60 beds, four to six operating theatres, a 15-bed maternity unit, and a chapel would be completed by 2014, and the third stage, an oncology centre, would be completed by 2018.

For more on this story see today's Canberra Times.