Sunderland hospital murals inspired by mum’s dementia diagnosis

An artist has gifted a pair of murals to a hospital after being inspired by his mother’s dementia diagnosis.

Neil Gibbins created the artwork for ward E56 at Sunderland Royal Hospital, which specialises in caring for elderly patients, including those with dementia.

The artist has also used the paintings to help raise £1,000 for Alzheimer’s Research.

Mr Gibbins said working on the murals had been “emotional”, as he had seen “people live with Alzheimer’s”.

Mr Gibbin’s mother Patricia Davison is from Sunderland, but now lives in Tynemouth.

She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.

Mr Gibbins said: “It’s been hard work and really emotional and challenging on ward E56, but that’s one reason why I wanted to do it, because I’ve seen people live with Alzheimer’s.”

The Sunderland artist painted a blossom tree on a wall in the hospital’s gastroenterology ward.

The room has now been named The Blossom Suite and is used as a quiet space for relatives.

Mr Gibbin’s second painting, in ward E56, is a landscape of landmarks from across north-east England.

It includes Penshaw Monument, Roker Lighthouse, Tunstall Hill, the bridges over the River Wear, the Tommy artwork on Seaham’s seafront and the Angel of the North.

Mr Gibbins has used his artwork to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research.

Ward manager Sam Carmichael said: “One of our relatives has donated money to Neil’s page after their family member died.

“They told me their dad would have loved the finished artwork, as it has a lot of hidden significance and messages which he would have related to.”