The WaterDrop

The WaterDrop solves the problem vulnerable patients have in reaching, lifting or holding drinks, helping to prevent dehydration and avoidable intravenous drips.

Often nursing staff spend a lot of time helping these patients drink – this vastly increases their exposure to risk due to the face to face nature of this task. The WaterDrop removes much of this risk.

The WaterDrop is a low-cost, high impact innovation that enables patients to easily access fluids at any time without needing to call for help. It is a one litre hydration system that attaches to beds, drip stands, chairs, drawer handles – somewhere around the hospital bed – like an intravenous drip that is used orally. The WaterDrop is available through NHS Supply Chain reference GTB1701

Dehydration is potentially the biggest single issue in healthcare. Over 25% of hospital patients are unable to reach, lift or hold drinks. This means around 30,000 patients every day are at risk of dehydration and its consequences, which include urinary tract infection (UTI), acute kidney injury (AKI) and falls. To prevent dehydration patients are often placed on intravenous drips, but up to 60% of these drips are considered avoidable. Hydration can, and should, be achieved more effectively and with less plastic waste.

Impact

Use of The WaterDrop:

• Promotes independence and dignity for users: 90% of patients said it helped them drink more. (Chelsea & Westminster Hospital)
• Increases efficiencies on wards by releasing time to care: reducing the need to help patients drink means more time available to care for more vulnerable people
• Reduces costs  versus using intravenous drips by 86% (Hastings Hospital)
• Reduces infection risk by preventing new cannulas being inserted
• Reduces plastic waste by 70%– 90g versus 300g where an intravenous drip is avoided (Southmead Hospital)