A community hospital has opened its door to patients once more after under going nearly £2m worth of improvements.

Work at Swaffham Community Hospital, on Sporle Road, has seen its water system updated and as well as refurbishment to outpatient facilities.

The hospital, which is run by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C), reopened on Thursday having being closed since July for the work to be completed.

While the doors were shut inpatients were transferred to other NCH&C hospitals in Dereham and Kelling while some patients were visited at their homes by community nurses and therapists.

Roy Crane, NCH&C's modern matron for the West locality, said: 'This improvement work represents a significant investment for our Trust and we are delighted the refurbishment is complete.

'It has brought the hospital up to date with modern standards, which has been essential for its future and will ensure it can continue to offer the best support to people in and around Swaffham for years to come.'

As part of the improvements water pipes and pumps were replaced and the number of clinic rooms have been increased from five to eight.

A new nurses station has been installed and a shower has been converted in to a wet room.

The hospital has 18 patient beds and one of its major responsibilities is rehabilitation.

Ward manager Diana Smith said: 'The improvements will be a huge benefit for patients and staff.

'We are delighted with the improvements which will enable us to give effective care.

'We take in patients from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (in King's Lynn), the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and from the community.

'People come to us where mobility is an issue, we get people after operations or with slight infections.

'We do home visits to make sure it is safe to go home.

'We try to get people back on their feet in an effective way.

'The facilities we have now are up to date.'

The hospital building dates back around 126 years although the ward is in a later extension.

Outpatient services offered at the hospital include contraceptive and sexual health services, dental services and diabetes services.