Stroud General Hospital’s Cashes Green Ward has reopened having undergone four months of major refurbishment.

The ambitious renovation programme has seen the 22-bed ward undergo a major upgrade, including the introduction of additional en suite bedrooms and bays, a day room and state-of-the-art facilities.

The six-figure renovation programme, led by colleagues from Stroud General and Cirencester hospitals, was made possible thanks to the generous support of Stroud Hospitals League of Friends, who donated a staggering £351,000 towards the works.

Candace Plouffe, Chief Operating Officer for Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, which manages Stroud General Hospital, said: “These works are hugely important and demonstrate the Trust’s continued commitment to investing in Stroud General Hospital and the care of its patients.

“This is one of our older buildings, but this refit will now allow us to offer the latest facilities in Cashes Green Ward, enabling us to provide the best possible care and treatment to patients.”

Senior Sister Janette Thomas said: “The nursing staff and patients are absolutely thrilled with this fantastic new state-of-the-art ward. It is dementia friendly, with colour-co-ordinated décor designed to help patients find their way around the ward and identify which is their room or bay and where the bathrooms and facilities are.

“We now have a dedicated office, which we didn’t have before, a day room, and the design and layout of the ward, which is mixed sex, offers greater flexibility to accommodate both male and female patients.

During its four-month closure, patients and staff were transferred to a temporary ward at Cirencester Hospital.

“We would like to thank the Cashes Green Ward staff for their positive approach to continuing to deliver care while relocated some distance away in Cirencester, the Cirencester staff for how welcoming they have been to colleagues, the Stroud housekeeping team for all their hard work to get the ward spick and span in time to reopen the ward, and Estates colleagues for leading the delivery of this significant project,” said Janette.

“But none of this would have been possible without the huge generosity of Stroud Hospitals League of Friends, who have been hugely supportive in our investment in the hospital, and instrumental in bringing this major renovation project to fruition.”

Dr Roma Walker, Chair of Stroud Hospitals League of Friends, added: “The contribution of £351,000 by Stroud Hospitals League of Friends to Cashes Green Ward has lifted it from being a standard refurbishment to one that is state-of-the art.

“In addition to other elements, the donation has funded en-suite facilities and specialist bathrooms which not only provide privacy, dignity and wellbeing for patients, but are also an important factor for infection control.

“We are grateful to all those who donate funds to us so that we can spend it wisely to enhance the two Stroud hospitals and other local healthcare facilities. So a massive thank you to the community of Stroud and surrounding area.”