Major changes to the layout and decoration on a ward at Salisbury District Hospital will provide calmer surroundings for patients with dementia and help with their care and well-being, say hospital bosses.

The changes to Redlynch ward are part of a wider programme to improve general wards over the next few years and were paid for by £800,000 funding from the Department of Health and £250,000 from the hospital’s capital funds.

Changes to the ward include refurbishment of bedrooms, day, dining and reception areas.

Artwork and memorabilia will be used to trigger memories and provide visual stimulation. T

here will also be a cinema-style area and a nostalgia wall to help promote memory and awareness.

Tracey Nutter, director of nursing at the hospital, said: “Over the years we’ve introduced a number of groundbreaking initiatives that help provide additional support for patients with dementia throughout the hospital.”