PALMDALE : Possible Bidder for Hospital Drops Out

Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center officials have decided against making a bid to buy the debt-ridden Palmdale Hospital Medical Center, saying competing offers were too high.

Antelope Valley hospital officials had announced last month that they were considering buying the 123-bed facility to improve service to patients in Palmdale. Representatives of the Palmdale facility said last week they have an offer of more than $10 million from the 132-bed Lancaster Community Hospital and its parent company, Paracelsus Healthcare Corp., and will continue possible sale discussions with Summit Health Care of Burbank and two firms from out of state. They hope to have a commitment to purchase the Palmdale hospital by next week.