Beautiful underwater scenes featuring a coral reef now greet patients in the waiting room of the elderly medical assessment unit at Poole Hospital.

The unit had been recently renovated with money raised from Poole Hospital Charity’s Elf Dash and local artist Sebastian Avoray asked the fundraising team if he could help. He then visited the waiting room many times to meet the staff and understand what style of art would have the most benefit for patients.

Advanced nurse practitioner, Samantha Sargent, said: “We are so proud to have these paintings. Many of our patients come into the hospital with dementia so it is wonderful for them to have a painting like this to distract them and calm them if they are waiting for an appointment. It really brightens up our day when we discover new things in the paintings.

Sebastian, who is also a neuroscience student, said: “After recently moving to the area and seeing the pressure hospitals are under, I wanted to give back to my local hospitals. The paintings took a few months and I feel very proud knowing that patients at the hospital may get some joy out of them.”

Sebastian is in talks with other departments for their own commissions. Dorset Framers supplied the frames.