A hospital ward has re-opened in Ipswich after undergoing an extensive refurbishment to make it dementia-friendly.

The Stradbroke Ward at Ipswich Hospital has introduced pictorial signs and colour-coded walls to its 28-bed gastroenterology unit to help patients find their way.

Bed areas have had a re-vamp by getting rid of clutter, calming artwork added to the walls, and bathrooms and lighting have also been improved.

The work was funded with part of a £1.5million legacy left to the hospital by former patient, Peter Gibbons.

Becky May, matron for medicine, said: “We try and do everything we can to help people with dementia to feel safe and comfortable when they come into hospital, as it can be very unsettling for them.

“Making our wards easy to navigate is an important part of that and can make a big difference to their admission.”