The Hydrant: A unique hydration system – solving the problem of reaching, lifting or holding drinks

Winner of The Queens Award for Enterprise: Innovation

The issue:

Dehydration is probably the biggest single issue in healthcare, and one of the main causes is the lack of easy access to fluids for people with limited mobility. Those recovering or receiving care in hospital, a hospice or at home who are unable to reach, lift, or hold drinks without help are at risk of dehydration.

The solution:

The Hydrant refillable water bottle solves the problem for healthcare staff, carers and patients, simply by closing the gap between the drinker and the drink. For patients, it delivers independence and dignity for those who would otherwise struggle to stay hydrated. It allows carers to accurately measure fluid intake and frees up more time for them to care for patients in other ways.

Why is it clever?

The unique, patented, award-winning Hydrant water bottle clips, hooks or hangs using the brilliantly simple one-piece cap/hook/handle. It attaches to beds, chairs, wheelchairs, bikes, pushchairs, drip stands…virtually anywhere, solving a massive issue in a low-cost way.

Overview of what The Hydrant delivers:

1. Patient experience – improving dignity and independence

2. Healthcare efficiencies – releasing time to care

3. Cost savings – bottom line cost reductions at scale

Health economics:

 100% reduction in urinary and wound infection ( improving hydration of hospital patients, report from Wexham Park Hospital published in the Nursing Times)

 37% reduction in length of stay, 14% reduction in drip useage, 22% reduction in use of drugs for urinary issues (GWH final report)

 85% of patients and 95% of staff felt patients had drunk more as a result of having a Hydrant

 92% of Hydrant users showed no indication of any kind of dehydration (Lister Hospital study), and the 8% who did were dehydrated on arrival.

 90% of patients felt it helped them drink without assistance (Lister)

 36:1 return on investment – Duncan Goodes, Head of Innovation Promotion , NHS South of England

 80% of community customers in a survey reported a reduction in urinary tract infections

 Prevent one hospital admission with a UTI and save the NHS around £10,000

Quotes from healthcare professionals:

It has hugely improved the quality of life for our patients and as such The Hydrant should be a standard part of any hospital & armour in the battle against dehydration”   Liz Evans, Nutrition Nurse Specialist, Stoke Mandeville Hospital

‘The Hydrant……cheap, easy to implement, tackling the most basic problem. Potentially one of the ideas with the highest return to investment ratio I have ever seen’ Jim Easton, NHS National Director for Improvement and Efficiency, in a Keynote speech at the Healthcare Innovation Expo

“I’ve been in trauma nursing for 20 years and this is one of the best ideas I’ve ever seen” Squadron Leader Ian Slaughter, Officer Commanding – Nursing, Headley Court, The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre

Quotes from users:

“Awesome product. I was in hospital for a spinal operation and really struggled to get a drink until I was given a Hydrant. It is simply brilliant. What a great solution to a massive problem in the health system. They should be on every hospital bed!! Good luck.”

“Just a quick testimonial from me: I have just spent the last 4 weeks in hospital, 3 weeks of which were complete bed rest on my back with a collar on. I came of my bicycle and have c2 and c3 spinal fracture. Luckily the ward I was on was trialing the Hydrant. It was an absolute saviour, there is no way I would have stayed anywhere near hydrated without it. Staffing levels were not adequate to enable me to feed with a cup and straw at will. I've very thankful for the nurse who gave me the Hydrant, and for you who made it!”

“The hydrant was an essential part of my being able to drink more in that it allowed me to drink whenever I wanted without having to ask someone else to help. Using this regime I have not had a urinary tract infection for about a year and half, before that I was getting them every few weeks! My specialist is delighted!”

 

 

Case study from the community to illustrate the impact:

Client has Motor Neurone Disease and is fully supported by his wife as carer.

 Prior to using The Hydrant he had a monthly urinary infection requiring hospital admission and was permanently taking saliva inducing drugs. His carer was getting up 6 or 7 times every night to help him drink.

 Post Hydrant introduction – taken off saliva inducing drugs, no UTIs and no hospital admission for 6 months. Plus, his carer is now getting a full night’s sleep and is able to support him better as a result

 This one example delivers huge patient, and carer experience benefits as well as cost savings that could well run to £20,000

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