The Water-Drop is a low-cost / high-impact innovative drinking system. It has been specifically designed for hospital patients, care home residents and vulnerable people in the community.

For simplicity – picture an intravenous drip system that is used orally. It is a simple, low-cost, single patient use, disposable product which fits in with the way the NHS and care homes work at an operational level.

The problem: preventable dehydration

Often the CAUSE of dehydration is not lack of fluid but simply the LACK OF EASY, INDEPENDENT ACCESS to drinks.

If a vulnerable person cannot easily reach, lift or hold a drink they will need help to stay properly hydrated. That help is often not immediately or consistently available.

Dehydration is possibly the single biggest issue in healthcare. Huge levels of hospital admissions and increased length of stay are a direct result of dehydration i. Urinary infections account for over 170,000 admissions and over 1.3 million bed days each year ii. Falls, constipation, intravenous drips, acute kidney injury, blocked catheters and many other issues are often a direct result of dehydration. Not to mention many deaths which are regularly headline news.

The impact of dehydration on patient wellness is extraordinary. It is extraordinary. It contributes massively to our core indicators in death, outcomes and length of stay just from whether the water is consumed or not, whether frail elderly patients are hydrated or not. Dedicated staff put the water in the cup, put the water by the bed, but the patient cannot reach it….
– Jim Easton, NHS National Director for Improvement and Efficiency

As a junior doctor I would set up as many as 20 intravenous drips each day to rehydrate patients. Around 60% of these would have been totally avoidable if the patients were able to easily access fluids without calling for help.
– Dr S Derry BSc BMBS MRCGP

A simple solution

The Water-Drop is a low-cost / high-impact innovative drinking system. It has been specifically designed for hospital patients, care home residents and vulnerable people in the community.

For simplicity – picture an intravenous drip system that is used orally. It is a simple, low-cost, single patient use, disposable product which fits in with the way the NHS and care homes work at an operational level.

How to use:
The Water-Drop is very easy to use. Once filled with fluids it is designed to be easily attached, (by using the hang point, metal hook or Velcro strap) to a wide range of things which make it easy to access – such as a drip stand, bed rail, back of a chair, drawer handle, wheelchair frame and so on. The user then simply bites the non-return valve at the end of the tube to release fluids in an easy to control flow.

Telephone: 0800 292 2382

Email: waterdrop@hydrateforhealth.co.uk

Website: www.thewaterdrop.co.uk

How to Purchase

The Water-Drop can be bought directly from Hydrate for Health Ltd or via NHS Supply Chain Reference GTB1701