Dementia wards at Whipps Cross have been overhauled to make them safer for patients in a £500,000 project.

The Leytonstone hospital used half a million poiunds from Barts Charity to renovate its dementia unit with safer flooring, relaxing day rooms and an improved ward layout.

Signage has been redeveloped to be more easily understood by people with dementia and new artwork installed including photographs taken by local people as part of a competition.

Lucy Cosgrove, dementia clinical nurse specialist, said: “We’re seeing more and more patients living with dementia coming to the hospital.

“We want to make sure that they can get better in an environment that will aid their recovery.”

Barts Charity funds research, equipment and projects across Barts Health NHS Trust hospitals, including Whipps.

Fiona Miller-Smith, Barts Charity chief executive, said: “We’re very proud that the charity’s funding has enabled such significant improvements in the care of patients who are living with dementia.

“The refurbishment has transformed the environment not just for these patients, but for their families and the staff too.”